National Child Exploitation Day - say something if you see something
Today (Friday 18 March) is National Child Exploitation Day which aims to highlight the issues surrounding child exploitation, encouraging everyone to think, spot and speak out against abuse.
The national campaign calls for everyone to take a zero tolerance approach to child exploitation. This means adults developing inappropriate relationships with children or children exploiting and abusing their peers.
Child exploitation encompasses sexual and criminal exploitation, trafficking, modern slavery and other forms of adolescent vulnerability.
This week staff from Telford & Wrekin Council’s children’s services have been out and about around the borough, working with different groups of young people in schools as well as in the community to raise awareness of child exploitation. They have also provided training sessions for foster carers.
Additionally the council has been working with the police to deliver a series of training sessions, focused on understanding the different types of exploitation including spotting the signs for concern.
Councillor Shirley Reynolds (Lab), Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “It is vital we all play our part in keeping children and young people safe. It’s one of the most important things we do as a local authority.
“So today, on national child exploitation day, we are reminding everybody in Telford to say something if they see something that worries them. They should do this by contacting either Family Connect 01952 385385 or in an emergency West Mercia Police by calling 999.”
