POLICE have launched an inquiry after reports that five teenage girls have been sexually exploited over the internet by older men.

Inspector Andy Everitt, of Ryedale police in North Yorkshire, said inquiries were continuing after the girls, aged 15 and 16, were contacted via social media.

His officers are working with the teenagers and their families, as well as schools, to raise awareness of the dangers of child sexual exploitation.

Insp Everitt said the investigation was close to a result and that stopping sexual exploitation was a priority in Ryedale after an increase in the number of reports of sexual crimes.

He said: “One of our key priorities is supporting teenage girls who may be exploited by much older men through a number of mediums, including social media.”

He also confirmed that his officers were working with Ryedale’s secondary schools and were making students aware of the dangers of online grooming and sexual exploitation.

He added: “The existence of ‘virtual communities’ is a strange concept for many people in their understanding of what the community is, however, we know in today’s society many people spend a lot of their time connecting to their virtual community through social media.

“Having awareness of what your child is accessing and doing online is really important to ensure they remain safe. It is also really important that young people are very careful about what they do via social media applications.”