WITH recent news headlines being dominated by criminal prosecutions
of
child sex abuse cases affecting children as young as 10, police and
schools in Warrington and across Cheshirer are joining forces to
safeguard young people.
The agencies in Cheshire who are involved in safeguarding young people are working together to protect young people at risk from issues such as this.
As part of this work, a campaign titled ‘The more you know, the more you see,’ launches across Cheshire this week.
Schools across Warrington, Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East and Halton will be working to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation among children and their parents.
‘The more you know, the more you see’ aims to create debate amongst young people, professionals, parents and others people responsible for caring for young people, about how to spot the signs of child sexual exploitation.
DCI Nigel Wenham said: “Ensuring young people are familiar with the signs of child sexual exploitation will help them to make positive decisions about relationships, and warn them about relationships with people who may want to manipulate and control them in order to sexually exploit them.
“If child sexual exploitation can be talked about openly in the home, at school, with friends, with family and those charged with caring for young people then they will be able to trust those people around them and be able to break free by seeking the vital help they need.”
“Both children and their parents are being urged to visit the website www.knowandsee.co.uk. On the site there are profiles of three young people who have been sexually exploited. Their stories really bring home the trauma of child sexual exploitation and explains the signs to look for if a child is being exploited.”
There are many agencies across the county engaged in the campaign, including schools, local authority and health workers, police officers and people whose role it is to help youngsters in tough situations. A forward-looking social business, Catch22 has more than 200 years’ experience of providing services that help people turn their lives around.
Local Catch22 Assistant Director, Nicky Shaw said: “Catch22 is proud to be working to prevent Child Sexual Exploitation across Cheshire. We have worked closely with the Local Child Safeguarding Board and Cheshire Constabulary to raise awareness of the risks and devastating impact of child exploitation. Catch22 Case Workers are offering support to young people affected by this issue and we cannot underestimate the importance of helping young people protect themselves and their peers. That is why we are fully behind the CSE Awareness Week and its “The More You See, the More You Know” initiative.”
Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer (pictured right) said: “We now want parents and those who care for some of our most vulnerable children in our communities to play their part. Child sexual exploitation is a hidden crime which can go unnoticed but causes untold damage – both physical and mental – on young victims caught up in its web, leaving them scarred for life.”
Driving forward the agenda on child sexual exploitation are the four Local Children’s Safeguarding Boards.
Audrey Williamson, chair of the Warrington Local Safeguarding Board said: “This is an issue that we have been addressing in Warrington for some time with a view to making sure that we have the right support services in place, identifying new ways of gathering intelligence and creating a wider debate among practitioners, public sector services, children and young people and the wider community.
“We are 100% behind this campaign which sets out to stamp out the stigma attached with even talking about child sexual exploitation. It’s also about encouraging people to have the confidence to come forward and know that there are people waiting to help and support them.”
