Lancashire Police train teachers on how to tackle sexting and grooming in schools
Teachers in Lancashire are being given lessons on how to tackle the issues of sexting and grooming with their pupils.
Teachers in Lancashire are being given lessons on how to tackle the issues of sexting and grooming with their pupils.
Skelmersdale Police are running a special training programme and are working directly with staff on how they address these sorts of issues with youngsters.
It's hoped it'll stop child exploitation from even happening if they have the knowledge.
This follows on from the ‘Respect Me Too’ workshops that were run in several schools across the area last year aimed at Year 7 pupils focussing on how youngsters may be groomed.
Three, one-day training programmes for staff from nine West Lancashire schools will be hosted at Skelmersdale Police Station
WATCH: DC Libby Wadsworth is behind the project that is helping train teachers to talk about the dangers of sexting and grooming in West Lancashire's schools:
The sessions will focus on: • healthy/unhealthy relationships • sexting • impact of pornography (inappropriate pictures/selfies) • Grooming/Child Sexual Exploitation - spotting the signs • Safeguarding – the referral processes • the law and legal implications of the above issues
Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, Clive Grunshaw, said: “Helping young people to be safe is key to ensuring that they can't be exploited or groomed.
“Supporting vulnerable people and victims is one of the key priorities of my Police and Crime Plan and I fully support the work with local schools to help keep our young people safe.
"We have done a lot of work to raise awareness of CSE and to prevent young people from being targeted. However, anyone who has fallen victim to grooming or exploitation can now get help through Nest Lancashire, a service I launched earlier this year to provide support, information and guidance to young victims of crime."
Julie Tweedale, Director of Freedom Personal Safety, added: “We believe prevention work of this kind empowers young people to make safe choices and be aware of how they can take steps to reduce risks, particularly when they are online. Working in partnership with the schools and the Deter Team means we can pool our knowledge and experience to raise awareness with young people across West Lancashire.”