As communities across Warwickshire continue to stay at home and adhere to social distancing measures following the recent COVID-19 pandemic, Warwickshire Police and the county council are urging th...
As communities across Warwickshire continue to stay at home and adhere to social distancing measures following the recent COVID-19 pandemic, Warwickshire Police and the county council are urging the public to learn to spot the signs of child exploitation as some children and young people may be at increased risk.
Child exploitation (CE) is a type of child abuse and involves the manipulation and/or coercion of young people under the age of 18.
It can manifest itself in different forms, including child abuse, sexual exploitation, county lines drug dealing, human trafficking and online grooming, affecting young people from all walks of life. There is no stereotypical victim of exploitation but there are warning signs in children's behaviour that may indicate something's not right.
Police, Barnardo’s and Warwickshire County Council Children’s Services form the multi-agency team in Warwickshire are leading the county response and are behind the ‘Something’s Not Right’ campaign aiming to raise awareness of and tackle child exploitation (CE) at the early stages.
The COVID-19 pandemic has meant people are being asked to stay at home and adhere to social distancing measures to help stop the spread of disease, however that does not mean children and young people are not being exploited.
The measures in place can put some children and young people at even greater risk, particularly of online grooming as young people spend increasing amounts of time online.
Detective Chief Inspector Jill Fowler from Warwickshire Police said:
“Child exploitation affects some of the most vulnerable people in society – children – and while the nation adjusts to the new COVID-19 social distancing measures, this does not mean that child exploitation isn’t happening.
“Some children are still at risk of child exploitation in spite of the recent lock down and it is important we are all able to recognise the warning signs and know where to turn for help so that interventions can be put in place. If people know what to look out for, they can take steps to help a child that is being exploited.
“Children and young people are spending an increased amount of time online which may make them more vulnerable to exploitation. While social distancing measures are in place, children may still be going missing and this could be because they are being exploited online.
“During these challenging times, we would urge any parent or carer who has a child or young person go missing to please get in touch with us and report them as missing. We are here to help and will do all we can to ensure they are found and returned home.
“We’d also urge parents to pay extra attention to what their children are doing online; be aware of the risk and keep an eye on what sites they are visiting.
“Individuals who abuse and exploit children pose a significant risk to our society and we will continue to identify and pursue them through the criminal justice system at every opportunity.”
Parents, carers, siblings and friends: signs to look out for -
- unexplained gifts
- more than one mobile phone
- spending an unusual amount of time on their computer or mobile phone
- changes in mood
- going missing
- going out at unusual times or staying out late
- being secretive about where they are going or what they are doing or looking at online
- lack of interest in activities and hobbies
John Coleman, Assistant Director, Children and Families Service at Warwickshire County Council said:
“Everyone has a responsibility to do all they can to protect vulnerable children and young people and due to the current virus outbreak, this is more important than ever. If something’s not right or you think you know someone at risk, please get in touch.
“If you are a child or young person and you’re worried about the way someone is treating you or you are concerned about a friend or sibling, there are lots of ways that you can get the support you need and you can also reach out anonymously. We are here to help.”
Where to go for help:
If you know someone you think is being exploited, please report it to help and protect that child or young person - your observations and phone call could make all the difference.
For more information or guidance visit:
- #SaySomething – a 24/7 free and anonymous helpline - call or text 116 000
- Help and support from Warwickshire CSE: warwickshirecse.co.uk
- NSPCC- Coronavirus (CoVID-19) and keeping children safe from abuse
- UK Safer Internet Centre- Keeping children happy and safe online during CoVID-19
- Childline– 0800 11 11
- If you have child abuse concerns, contact Warwickshire Children's Services on 01926 414 144, 9.00am - 5.30pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00am - 5.00pm on Friday. Out of these hours if you have an emergency contact the emergency duty team on 01926 886 922.
- For information on services for children and families in Warwickshire, visit gov.uk/childrenandfamilies
If you think that a child is at immediate risk, contact the police immediately on 999.