Norfolk residents asked to spot signs of child exploitation
City College Norwich students have created a documentary on the dangers of online exploitation
People in Norfolk are being asked to support National Child Exploitation Awareness Day (18 March).
Norfolk Police have teamed up with the Rose Project and City College Norwich to highlight the signs of child exploitation.
The Rose Project, which is part of the Magdalene Group, supports children and young people who have been or are at risk of being sexually exploited.
Both the police force and support project have featured in a film highlighting risks online, created by students at City College Norwich:
Child exploitation involves people under the age of 18 being coerced or manipulated into sexual or criminal activity with adults or older children in the real world or online.
According to Norfolk Police, it can take many forms including:
- A seemingly 'consensual' relationship with an older boyfriend or girlfriend
- A young person taking part in sexual activity for attention, gifts, alcohol, cigarettes or drugs
- A victim being persuaded to sent explicit images via phone or online
Offenders use emotional, financial or physical power on their victims to abuse them, with violence and intimidation being common.
Norfolk Police and the Rose Project is inviting people raise awareness via social media using the hashtags #HelpingHands and #CEADay21.
Participants are also asked to write a personal pledge on their hands to show support for the Helping Hands campaign and post images online.
Andy Coller, head of safeguarding at Norfolk Police, said: "Child exploitation can take many forms, but in all cases somebody will seek to exploit an imbalance of power in order to get something they want from a young person.
"They do this by either seeking out or creating a vulnerability and will then use this to gain control. One of the things we can do to combat child exploitation is to raise awareness of the problem, which is what this day is all about.
"If people are aware of the signs then they might become more suspicious as to who this person is, why they are showing such interest and ultimately what they might want."
If you are concerned about a child in Norfolk and want to speak to someone, contact the Children’s Advice and Duty Service on 0344 800 8020.