SIR – For the first time West Yorkshire is soon to elect a police and crime commissioner, who will make sure the public has a say in how the region is policed.

Barnardo’s hopes he or she will make tackling child sexual exploitation a priority for the force, because the police can and do play a key role in spotting and dealing with this ugly crime.

In every part of the country children are being groomed, abused and exploited for sex, as recent high-profile cases have highlighted. Police and crime commissioners will be central in uncovering this hidden crime and prosecuting abusers to help make all of our children safer.

Barnardo’s has been working to stamp out child sexual exploitation around the UK for 18 years and there is an ever-increasing demand for our services. We already work closely with the police on child sexual exploitation, but there is more to do.

We urge members of the public to send a message their police commissioner candidates in their area by going to barnardos.org.uk/cutthemfree and join us in the fight against this terrible crime.

Steve Oversby, director, Barnardo’s Yorkshire