Karen Smith, a safety officer for Norwich City Council, made the bombshell statement during a discussion about the safety of children in the city centre.

She said: "We have spotted some signs of criminal and sexual exploitation among some of the young people that are out in the Haymarket and Hay Hill areas.

Hay Hill in Norwich (Image: Dan Grimmer)

"So the targeted youth support services are there to actually go out engage with them and get the children involved in diversionary activities."

But the police said they have not had such reports and their concerns are primarily to do with antisocial behaviour - which has led to increased patrols and collaboration with the council.

A spokeswoman for Norfolk Police said: "We have had no recent reports of sexual or criminal exploitation in........

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