Friday 01st December 2023 is an Inset Day and we welcome pupils back on Monday 04th December 2023
Criminal Exploitation and County Lines
The NSPCC defines child criminal exploitation as “child abuse where children and young people are manipulated and coerced into committing crimes”.
For more information please visit the following links;
What is County Lines?
County lines is the term used to describe urban gangs supplying drugs to other parts of the UK using dedicated mobile phone lines (Dorset Police). Sadly it can be common for young people to be exploited and coerced into joining these gangs.
For more information please visit the following links;
Child Sexual Exploitation – the more you know, the more you see
Child Sexual Exploitation is Child Abuse. Any young person could become a victim, regardless of their social or ethnic background.
Victims are often coerced into sexual relationships which they confuse with love and attention. They risk damage to their physical, emotional and psychological health.
- Sexual exploitation is a form of sexual abuse in which a young person is manipulated or forced into taking part in a sexual act often in return for attention, affection, money, drugs, alcohol or accommodation.
- The child might think that their abuser is their friend or boyfriend but the abuser might physically or verbally threaten them and be violent towards them. They will control and manipulate them and try to isolate them from friends and family.
- In organised sexual exploitation young people are passed through networks where they are forced into sexual activity with a number of men. This often takes place at ‘sex parties’ and the young people may be used to recruit others into the network.
There is no stereotypical victim of exploitation, but the below warning signs are an indication that a child may be exploited:
- Regularly missing from home or school and staying out all night
- Change in behaviour – becoming aggressive and disruptive or quiet and withdrawn
- Unexplained gifts or new possessions such as clothes, jewellery, mobile phones or money that can’t be accounted for
- Increase in mobile phone use or secretive use
- A significantly older ‘boyfriend’ or ‘friend’ or lots of new friends
- Spending excessive amounts of time online or on their mobile and becoming increasingly secretive about this activity
- Sudden involvement in criminal behaviour or increased offending
- Sexual health problems
- Change in physical appearance
If you have concerns that a child you know may be a victim of Child Sexual Exploitation report it to your local police on 101
Alternatively you can report it to Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org/cse
In an emergency, or if a crime is ongoing, always dial 999.
Do you have any suspicions or worries about a person that is in contact with your child?
Sarah’s Law – also known as the child sex offender disclosure scheme – allows parents, carers and guardians to formally ask the police to tell them if someone has a record for child sexual offences. Grandparents and neighbours are also invited to use the scheme but it is most commonly used by parents and guardians.
If you think a child is at immediate risk then you should call 999 to report your concerns. In all other circumstances (non-emergencies) you should telephone 101 or visit here.
Helplines:
Local Authority Children’s Social Care – Bournemouth 01202 458102, Poole 01202 735046, Christchurch 01202 414106,
Out of Hours 01202 657279
Home Office website: We PROTECT: fighting online child sexual exploitation
Parents Protect! is a website which aims to raise awareness about child sexual abuse: http://www.parentsprotect.co.uk/
Barnado’s have published the following leaflet for parents: spot_the_signs_parents
Take a look at the Barnados Keep Safe leaflet for valuable information and advice on Child Sexual Exploitation.
PAN Dorset have produced a CSE-Leaflet with more help to spot the signs of CSE.
PACE – Parents Against Child Sexual Exploitation – helps parents fight to keep their children safe: paceuk.org
You can also visit Stop-CSE.org.