Today (9th December) Cumbria Constabulary, along with partner agencies, have launched a campaign around child sexual exploitation (CSE).
For the next three days key information will be circulated on the Cumbria Police website and social media accounts, giving advice on how to prevent CSE and how to spot when it may be happening.
Today is focused on how everyone in Cumbria has a role to play in spotting and reporting CSE, regardless of their profession or knowledge of children.
The campaign follows the Police and Crime Commissioner’s conference on Friday (6th November) which launched his further commitment to tackling domestic abuse and sexual violence.
A webchat will be taking place tomorrow (10th December), which will allow anyone to ask any questions they may have around CSE. A number of different agencies will be taking part in the webchat, and will be offering advice and signposting to the best places to get support.
The webchat will take place between 6:30pm to 8pm here: www.cumbria.police.uk/csechat
DCI Nick Coughlan, from the Public Protection Unit for Cumbria Constabulary, said:
“We work very hard to bring CSE offenders to justice, as Operation Chiefton showed last week. However, it is crucial that we uncover any exploitation as quickly as possible and protect children in Cumbria.
“CSE is a crime that can affect any child, anytime, anywhere. That is why I am urging everyone in Cumbria to be vigilant against exploitation and report any suspicions to the police. This includes people who work in people-orientated professions, such as taxi drivers and hairdressers, who may see things signs that are hidden from close friends and family.
“CSE can take many forms – whether it is through a seemingly ‘consensual’ relationship with an older boyfriend, or a young person having sex in return for attention, gifts, alcohol or cigarettes.
“Child exploitation is thankfully rare but if you have any concerns please call Cumbria Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Protecting children is everyone’s responsibility.”
Police and Crime Commissioner, Richard Rhodes said:
“I welcome the Child Sexual Exploitation campaign by the Constabulary supported by operational policing activity which is a key priority from the Police and Crime Plan. I hosted last week a good conference looking at the next steps to try and ensure that what is presently a rare crime in Cumbria doesn’t become accepted or established.”
Iain McKay, Service Manager for the NSPCC in Cumbria said:
“I commend Cumbria Police for the campaign they are running on Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) as this issue is sometimes seen as an issue only for inner cities but the real situation is that children and young people in every city, town and village, no matter how small, can be at risk of sexual exploitation. CSE is an issue that everybody needs to take seriously and we have a responsibility as parents, carers, professionals and members of the wider community to be vigilant about children and young people who maybe or at risk of being sexually exploited.”
Cllr Anne Burns, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said:
“When we discover abuse we do everything we can to protect children from further harm and help them recover. But it's vital to prevent abuse from happening to children in the first place.
“We have to solve this problem together, so we’ll be working hard with the Police to help raise awareness on how to protect against child sexual exploitation. Parents and professionals coming into contact with children must be able to spot possible signs of sexual abuse or exploitation, and be confident of what they need to do to protect that child.”
Caroline Ledward, Contract Lead at Inspira, said:
“Online and face to face relationships can sometimes be exploitative so it is important that young people are aware of the danger signs.
“Our advice to young people is that if you or your friends have concerns about staying safe at home, on the street or online speak to someone you can trust. We have advisers who are trained to help based at our Advice Services centres – these are located in Barrow, Carlisle, Workington and Whitehaven.
“The child sexual exploitation campaign is really important as it highlights how online and face to face relationships can end up being exploitative. Inspira will often conduct the ‘Return to Home’ interview for a young person once the Police have completed a ‘Safe and Well Check’.
“We encourage young people and parents/carers who are concerned to talk to someone they trust. Inspira advisers can be contacted in one of our four Advice Services centres around the county or by calling 0800 435 709.”
Heather McFarlane, Children’s Service’s Lead for Safeguarding and Protection for Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“Keeping children safe is the responsibility of everyone which is why it is so important for organisations to work together to raise awareness. Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is proud to be part of this campaign and hope that by highlighting some of these children’s stories more parents, relatives and friends will know the signs of this kind of abuse and contact the police. We also hope it will give children the confidence to speak up if they think they are being abused and to know that help is available.”
What are the signs you need to know?
- Repeatedly going missing-particularly overnight
- Coming home with unaccounted gifts, i.e. clothes, money, food, jewellery, drugs or mobile phone
- Having a relationship with an older partner with whom there may or may not be concerns
- Mood swings and changes in behaviour
- Excessive and secret use of internet and /or mobile phone (potential grooming)
- Spending more time in their room and was accessing their computer late at night
- Having several SIM cards, frequent mobile phone top ups
- Being unusually secretive
- Losing contact with family and friends of their own age and associating with an older age group
- Unrecognised cars arriving at the home, especially at strange times
- Alcohol/Substance misuse
- Unexplained injuries
- Lacking self-esteem, leading to a change in personal appearance
- Excessive Washing or bathing particularly when returning from missing episodes
And what makes a child more at risk?
- If they come from a chaotic or dysfunctional household
- A lack of friends in the same age group
- Confused about their sexuality
- History of domestic abuse or neglect
- Learning disabilities
- Have come into contact with other exploited youngsters, e.g. at school
- Have suffered a recent bereavement or loss
- Are homeless or living in residential care, a hostel or bed and breakfast
- Have low self-esteem or confidence
- Young carer
Advice on child sexual exploitation can be found here: www.cumbria.police.uk/cse
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