Claims disabled state ward was sold to sex predators by another teen

POLICE are investigating allegations a vulnerable girl under the state’s watch was sold to sex predators by another teenager.

POLICE are investigating allegations a vulnerable girl under the state’s watch was sold to sex predators by another teenager.

The sickening claims have emerged amid increasing concern about the sexual exploitation of vulnerable children, including those living under state care.

The Herald Sun has been told the alleged victim, who has a disability, was in a high-risk residential unit in the northern suburbs when she came into contact with the girl at the centre of the police inquiry.

1400 CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE EACH NIGHT

STATE WARD GETS $1M FOR SEXUAL TORTURE

FOSTER CARE AGE EXTENDED TO 21 UNDER $11.6M BOOST

It has been alleged the 17-year-old under scrutiny repeatedly used a stolen car to drive the victim to meetings in secluded places with men, some aged up to their 40s.

The 17-year-old then collected cash in exchange for making the girl have sex with them.

Victoria Police confirmed officers from the Fawkner sexual offences and child abuse investigation team detectives were investigating a report of “alleged facilitation of sexual offences against a child.”

“A 17-year-old Roxburgh Park girl has been interviewed and released pending further enquiries,” a spokeswoman said.

Police said the investigation was ongoing and it was not appropriate to comment further.

The force and is child welfare authorities have been battling hard for years to shield young children from sex offenders.

Between January and March this year, police and the Department of Health and Human Services issued a record 135 harbouring notices to 110 people, ordering them to stay away from minors.

Eighty-four charges were also laid against 76 individuals.

The state government endorsed the Keeping Children Safe from Sexual Exploitation Strategy in 2015, ramping up department and police efforts to disrupt child exploitation.

Families and Children Minister Jenny Mikakos said she could not comment on the case, while the department said it had a zero-tolerance policy to child exploitation.

“We are continuing to work closely with Victoria Police to engage children at risk of exploitation and hold to account perpetrators who exploit children living in care,” the department said.

Australian Childhood Foundation CEO Joe Tucci said society needed to do more to protect its most vulnerable young people.

Mr Tucci said part of that was imposing the most serious penalties possible on those who preyed upon them.

“We’re concerned about the level of exploitation kids in residential care are exposed to,” he said.

“It’s unbelievable that these kids have had to be taken away from their families to protect them and they’ve been preyed upon.”