CARLY Bateman, a 17-year-old in the "care" of Bolton Social Services, started a life of prostitution at the age of 16, and was murdered at 17.

Within hours of her murder, the Bolton Evening News revealed that "about a dozen girls between 13 and 17 are involved in prostitution, and they are all from Bolton Social Services "care" homes.

Social Services, the police, and Councillor Frank White's Bolton Prostitution Forum apparently knew about this activity and quickly declared that the children (and that is what they are) "have rights, too, you know". As on so many other occasions, the police simply wrung their hands.

Have I missed something here? Sex with a person under the age of 16 is not prostitution, it is called paedophilia, consenting or not. Paedophilia is a serious criminal offence that frequently (and quite properly) culminates in very long terms of imprisonment for offenders, and for people aiding the offender.

Who exactly, and at what level "in authority", were aware of the abuse of these children, some barely out of primary school and who are meant to be under the "care and protection" of the Council? The senior Bolton police officer, the director of social services, Bolton Council's chief executive, the leader of the council, and the chair of social services must have been aware of the abuse. If any of the above are not aware of the abuse, why not?

Frank White wanted "some sanctions to protect the children" -- then arrest and lock up the paedophiles, Frank. The police know where, and probably who, they are. Or do paedophiles have rights, too?

How often is it, in Bolton, when things go wrong (tragically in this case), no one is apparently ever responsible for anything?

Surely we can expect the council and police to protect vulnerable 13-year-olds, allegedly, in their care, from paedophile abuse, as a minimum?

I react as the grandfather of a 13-year-old girl; leave aside the taxpayer in me.

Ron Shambley

Clough Avenue

Westhoughton

Bolton