The Children’s Society and National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) Are Working Together to Raise Awareness Among Professionals Who May Be Able to Spot Signs of Abuse

The Children’s Society and National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) are working together to raise awareness among professionals including postal workers, delivery drivers and plumbers who are visiting people’s homes and may be able to spot signs of abuse.

Their new campaign comes as most pupils face an extended summer break, with schools now not set to fully reopen until September. Young people being abused at home may be even more vulnerable during the lockdown as abuse is more easily hidden from view.

The campaign’s posters, designed by The Children’s Society’s national exploitation Prevention programme, urge people to ‘Know, Look, Act’.The programme broadly works to prevent and improve responses to child sexual abuse and exploitation, child criminal exploitation, modern day slavery and human trafficking regionally and nationally in England and Wales, operating closely alongside statutory services, community groups and businesses to ensure they are equipped to identify and safeguarding children at risk.

Police forces across the country have been provided with the posters, along with businesses and professionals including supermarkets, restaurants and takeaways, foodbanks, job centres, Covid testing centres, transport operators, NHS 111 and social workers, youth workers, health visitors and midwives.

By raising awareness amongst neighbours and key workers of the signs to look for, they hope that children at risk might be safeguarded. Signs to watch out for include:

• Guarded behaviour around particular individuals
• Sudden changes in behaviour
• Bruises, burns, bite marks or fractures
• Children appearing withdrawn, anxious or frightened
• Hearing or seeing shouting and violence towards a child
• Children seen carrying or using drugs
• Children being late or arriving home late in different cars
• Unaccompanied children visiting a house where only adults

The Children’s Society fears abuse, including child sexual abuse, may have been going undetected during the Covid-19 crisis because children are spending more time at home, where they are less visible to professionals like teachers and social workers and to the public.

The charity also has concerns that children may be being exploited in other people’s homes – for instance, by being groomed by organised criminals to deal drugs from dangerous ‘trap houses’ in county lines operations.

People are being urged to stay curious, look beyond the obvious and report any concerns rather than attempting to intervene themselves. They are urged to notify their safeguarding lead if they are visiting in a professional capacity and to contact police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. They can also call the children’s charity the NSPCC on 0808 800 500 for advice or guidance.

James Simmonds-Read, National Prevention Programme Manager at The Children’s Society, said: “It’s a real worry that horrific child abuse and exploitation, which might be picked up on quickly in ordinary times could be going under the radar right now.

“We can all play a vital role in protecting vulnerable children, which is why we are urging anyone with concerns - be it a pizza delivery driver, gas engineer or a worried neighbour - to take responsibility and report them.

“If something doesn’t feel right, it might not be and by speaking out you could help a child escape a really dangerous, traumatic situation.”

The Children's Society offers some children their only lifeline and are in urgent needs of donations. Please help them by donating to its emergency Coronavirus Appeal.