OVER A thousand child exploitation crimes were recorded in the West Midlands last year, according to children’s charity.
Analysis carried out by the NSPCC of police recorded crime data says during 2021/22, 1,471 crimes were recorded by police in Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Mercia, West Midlands – an average of four every day.
In the same period in England and Wales, the charity say there were 17,486 crimes logged by police where children had been sexually exploited – an average of 48 offences a day, and an increase of 10 per cent on the previous year.
The charity has revealed the data as its Childline service launches The Full Story campaign in a bid to encourage more children and teenagers at risk of, or suffering sexual exploitation, to use Childline for immediate, confidential help.
The campaign has created a series of short films showing five different scenarios of sexual exploitation, taken from real Childline calls.
As well as helping children and young people gain an understanding of what sexual exploitation is and what a healthy relationship looks like, Childline is focussed on getting more young people to connect with them so they can offer immediate help and confidential support.
The service has unveiled posters at bus stops, motorway service stations, cinemas, colleges, Pupil Referral Units, youth centres, youth hostels, children’s homes, GP’s, and sexual health clinics.
The number of Childline counselling sessions on sexual exploitation and abuse has increased from 5,962 to 6,230 between April 2021 to March 2022.
Darren Worth, service head at Childline said: “Sexual exploitation is a complex crime and often when children describe what is happening in their relationship, they don’t realise they are being groomed and abused.
“Our counsellors have heard from children who have said they didn’t realise what they experienced in a relationship or friendship was wrong until they were much older, and some said at the time they thought their abuser was someone they could trust.
“Others said they thought they were to blame for what had happened and were scared about what would happen if they did speak out.
“This is why this campaign is so important as it’s essential that all children and young people have an awareness of this issue and know that no matter what the circumstances are, that sexual exploitation is never a child’s fault and there are people like Childline who can help.”
If anyone is concerned about a child contact 0808 800 5000 or [email protected]
For more information on the campaign visit www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/abuse-safety/full-story
