South Yorkshire Police issues plea for help in identifying victims of child sexual exploitation during pandemic

Police chiefs in South Yorkshire are urging people to be on the look out for children who may be the victims of sexual exploitation during the pandemic.
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With children spending more time alone because of Covid-19 there are fears they could be more susceptible to being groomed online.

A huge child sexual exploitation scandal was made public in 2014 when an independent report on the issue revealed 1,400 children in Rotherham had been abused while those in authority failed to act.

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The National Crime Agency is looking at historical offences between 1997 and 2013, when the abuse is said to have taken place.

South Yorkshire Police is urging people to be on the look out for signs of child sexual exploitationSouth Yorkshire Police is urging people to be on the look out for signs of child sexual exploitation
South Yorkshire Police is urging people to be on the look out for signs of child sexual exploitation

But with CSE still an issue today, South Yorkshire Police is urging people to spot the signs.

Detective Sergeant Laura Batterham said: “Tackling CSE is always a priority for us, however the pandemic means that people are facing a prolonged period of isolation, and this means that perpetrators may change tactics and take advantage of children being away from their friends, out of their usual routine and spending more time online.

“We have a significant number of dedicated officers involved in ongoing investigations and working to prevent abuse. However, we must all work better and more closely together to protect the vulnerable in our community and that includes raising awareness of what to look out for.”

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Behavioural signs that a young person is being exploited includes them becoming withdrawn from social networks and not mixing with their usual friends.

Victims can be defensive and aggressive when asked where they have been and what they have been doing.

They may also become secretive or withdrawn and receive unexplained expensive gifts.

DS Batterham added: “Victims often don’t know that they are being groomed, exploited or mistreated, so we need people to act for them. If you’re worried, please tell us.”

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Suzanne Joyner, Director of Children and Young People’s Services at Rotherham Council said: “We all have a responsibility and can all play a role in ensuring children are safe. There are many ways in which you can report concerns and I would urge you, if you are in any doubt at all about a child’s welfare, please report it.”