Force urges public to report signs of child exploitation

The force is encouraging people to report incidents of concern, as today marks Child Exploitation Awareness Day.

Telford Local Policing Commander, Superintendent Jim Baker said communities across Telford could play a huge part in helping to prevent crime, and spotting the signs of potential exploitation.

He said there are a number of forms of exploitation that children can be targeted for, including sexual, trafficking, modern day slavery and county lines drugs.

Supt Baker said: “Child exploitation is a priority for officers in Telford and we want to raise awareness of what is an extremely vital issue in our area. We have a dedicated Child Exploitation Team who work closely with the CATE team at the council but our communities are also a massive support in helping us to prevent and detect crime, enabling us to protect the vulnerable young people these criminals target.

“With people spending more time at home they may see suspicious or out of the ordinary behaviour in their neighbourhood, for example unexpected visitors or a young person suddenly turning up at a neighbour’s house who is not their child. It may be this is genuine but it could also be connected to exploitation and if someone is concerned we want to know.

“Likewise, as children and young people are spending more time at home, parents may notice a change in their behaviour. Perhaps they seem withdrawn or secretive.”

The force has outlined a list of signs that a child may be being groomed or exploited.

The include repeatedly going missing from home or a care home, significant changes in well-being – becoming more angry or withdrawn than normal, starting to hang around with different or older people, or having an older boy or girlfriend.

Other signs are having money or items they can’t afford, suspicion of self-harm, physical assault or unexplained injuries, being secretive about where they are, what they are doing, who they are seeing, having multiple mobile phones, or being scared to go out to certain places.

A spokesman for the force said: "Many of these signs might just be down to typical teenage challenges and part of growing up, exam pressures, boredom in lockdown, teenage relationships or other stressful issues. But they could also be signs that a young person is being groomed or used by criminals or gangs."

People can report concerns online at https://www.westmercia.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/.

Alternatively if people do not want to speak to the police and want to report anonymously they can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online https://crimestoppers-uk.org/