THE Prime Minister is to hold a conference on how best to tackle grooming gangs — but Lancashire Constabulary has not been invited.

It comes despite the force being one of the leading constabularies in the country for its approach to tackling child sexual exploitation.

The force has been cited by the government as an example of best practice, and one of its officers has led a task force into the issue.

David Cameron is expected to demand decisive action against sex grooming criminals, triggered by the public outrage over the Rotherham child-abuse scandal, at the meeting on Tuesday.

He will speak to experts to find new ways to catch paedophiles and protect vulnerable victims.

The Engage team was set up by numerous agencies in Blackburn with Darwen around ten years ago to tackle the issue of child sexual exploitation, which involves youngsters being groomed for sex, often in return for gifts, alcohol or drugs.

The team is made up of representatives from Lancashire Constabulary, children’s services, social services and charities.

It has been praised for its success, with Lancashire’s police and crime commissioner Clive Grunshaw saying the force has a “superb response” — the “benchmark” for other forces — to the issue.

The conference at Downing Street will hear from leaders from local authorities, clinical bosses, chief constables and experts in child protection — but not anybody from the Engage team.

Blackburn MP Jack Straw said: “It would have been excellent for Mr Cameron to be able to hear directly or indirectly from Lancashire Constabulary because the Engage team in Blackburn with Darwen has had an exemplary record.

“There has also not been any politically correct nonsense in our area about this and nobody wants it.

“I am not suggesting there has been anything deliberate here but it is a shame Mr Cameron is not going to hear from them.”

A spokesman for Lancashire Constabulary said DCI Ian Critchley, head of the Association of Chief Police Officers’ child sexual exploitation task force, had been told about the conference but had not been asked to attend.

She said: “Mr Critchley is aware of the meeting but Lancashire Constabulary has not been invited.”

A Downing Street spokesman said: “We are not inviting every part of the country.”