Child sexual exploitation- National campaign highlights how to spot signs of abuse
Inverclyde Child Protection Committee is supporting the first TV campaign in the UK to tackle child sexual exploitation, which launched in Edinburgh on 28 January.
It comes as new research shows 93 per cent of parents have heard of child sexual exploitation, but almost a third (29 per cent) know little about it and over a third (36 per cent) believe it won’t affect their family.
In 2014/15 ChildLine in Scotland provided 635 counselling sessions to children and young people worried about child sexual exploitation, with the NSPCC responding to 62 inquiries from adults in Scotland in the same period. Yet experts feel these figures may be the tip of the iceberg.
A new TV advert highlights how to spot the warning signs of this form of abuse and shows how conversations online can potentially lead to a young person placing themselves in danger.
The TV advert will run alongside outdoor advertising and local publicity across Inverclyde. The campaign is aimed at parents and young people aged 11-17, with the message child sexual exploitation can happen to any young person, regardless of their gender or background.
Inverclyde Child Protection Committee has set up a strategic group, bringing together local partners including the police, social work, education, health services and Barnardo’s to work on plans to prevent child sexual exploitation and to take action where there are concerns that a young person is at risk
Councillor Joe McIlwee, Chair of Inverclyde Health & Social Care Partnership said: “Child sexual exploitation is a complex form of abuse in which victims are manipulated, pressurised or forced into taking part in a sexual act in exchange for receiving something - this may include gifts, money, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, or simply affection. It’s often a hidden crime where the child may not understand that they are a victim and so may not come forward to ask for help.
“This research shows that most parents don’t know a lot about the ways in which child sexual exploitation can take place and don’t believe that their family is at risk. The reality is child sexual exploitation takes many different forms, both online and offline, and can affect any young person regardless of their gender or background.
“Parents and carers can play an important role in helping to keep young people in Scotland safe by making sure they are familiar with the signs of abuse that could indicate a child is at risk of abuse or already being affected.
“Inverclyde Child Protection Committee welcomes and supports this important awareness raising campaign from the Scottish Government and would urge anyone who has questions or concerns about CSE to visit the website www.csethesigns.scot or to go to Inverclyde Child Protection Committee website www.inverclydechildprotection.org where advice and support is available.”
Inverclyde Child Protection Committee is a strategic partnership involving senior officers from Inverclyde HSCP, Police Scotland, Inverclyde Council, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, SCRA, and the Voluntary Sector. The purpose of Inverclyde Child Protection Committee is to work together to safeguard our children and promote their wellbeing which we do on behalf of everyone who lives or works in Inverclyde.
Child sexual exploitation involves a young person under the age of 18 being manipulated, forced, pressurised or coerced into taking part in a sexual act in exchange for something.
A new website – www.csethesigns.scot - provides information and advice on how to spot the warning signs and symptoms, common myths, practical advice for staying safe online and offline and tips for parents on how to have a conversation with their child about healthy and unhealthy relationships.
The research published by YouGov looked at people’s understanding and knowledge of child sexual exploitation in Scotland. It was carried out during 14-20 August and a total of 501 interviews with parents of children aged 11-17 living in Scotland were conducted.
The Scottish Government pledged to develop an awareness raising campaign in the National Action Plan to Tackle Child Sexual Exploitation, published in November 2014.