aDVICE AND TIPS TO HELP SAFEGUARD YOUR CHILDREN FROM GANGS
Knowing the signs of child sexual exploitation (CSE) can help give a voice to children. A child is unlikely to know they are being groomed or exploited and might not speak out. Any child can be groomed into exploitation, though some children may be more at risk.
sIGNS OF cHILD CRIMINAL EXPLOITATION (CCE)
Significant decline in school results and performance
going missing from home, staying out late and leaving without explanation
Hanging out with someone older than them
Unexplained acquisition of money, clothes or mobile phone
Being angry, aggressive or violent
Being isolated or withdrawn
Using new slang words
Excessive receipt of texts / phone calls
Committing petty crimes like shop lifting or vandalism
Unexplained injuries and refusing to seek medical help
Signs of child sexual exploitation (CSE)
Persistently going missing for periods of time or returning home late regularly
frequently staying out late or overnight with no explanation as to where they have been
Being secretive about who they are talking to and where they are going
Using more than one phone
Excessive receipt of texts or phone calls
Having an older girlfriend or boyfriend, or having relationships with controlling older individuals or groups
Unexplained absences from school, college, training or work
Suddenly acquiring expensive gifts such as mobile phones and jewellery and not being able to explain how they came by them
Having hotel cards or keys to unknown places
Noticeable changes in behaviour - becoming secretive, defensive or agressive when asked about their personal life.
What to do if you are worried
Talk to them and listen
If a child or young person is being groomed to join a gang, there are many factors to consider to protect them and keep them safe. However, it’s crucial that they feel they’re able to talk to you, or to another trusted adult outside of the gang.
Speak to them honestly about the consequences of violent or illegal behaviour – they might not realise how they could be liable or could have been lied to. However, make sure that they still feel comfortable talking to you about what is worrying them.
Be aware
If you’re worried about a child, or know that they’re involved with a gang or criminal group, try to be aware where they are when they’re out, who they’re with and what they’re doing on social media. It’s important they trust you, but they might also be at risk.
Get to know your child’s friends and their families, and work with other parents and schools to keep an eye on their behaviour and who they’re with. This will help to know when they might need support or when they might be at risk.
Encourage a change
You can encourage them to get involved in positive activities at school or outside your local area – such as sports and clubs. You can also talk to them about what they want to do in the future, and find apprenticeships and school programmes to help. It’s important they feel like they have other options.
Talk to them about how to cope with pressure and how to deal with conflicts without using violence. Try to teach by example and look for ways of disciplining a child that don’t involve violence, so they feel like they can still talk to you about what’s happening.
Contact your Local Children’s Service Safeguarding team or the NSPCC’s helpline
If you have concerns about your child which are not immediate, we recommend contacting your Local Children’s Service Safeguarding team. Contact information for London boroughs Safeguarding teams can be found here. We also recommend contacting the NSPCC helpline, which can be contacted by calling: 0808 800 5000
Encourage your child to talk to someone
Encourage your child to confide in someone they trust. If they did not want to talk to a family member of friend, then they can contact ChildLine ( 0800 1111).
How you can protect your child from being Groomed
Children and young people can be groomed online or in the real world, by a stranger or by someone they know. With the growth of social media platforms, online games, and instant message apps, children are able to talk to anyone – friends or strangers – from around the world within minutes. This can be a benefit for many making them less isolated but for some, it can leave them vulnerable to being groomed.
Keep personal information private
Private details which could identify them in the real world – name, age, gender, phone number, home address, school name, and photographs – should only ever be shared with people they know.
Privacy settings
Spend time together looking at the privacy settings. It’s always best to assume that default settings are public and should be changed accordingly.
Reviewing apps, site, apps, and games they use
You will probably use social networks yourself, but you might want to know about new ones that your child is using or wants to use. Use them yourself and set up your own account so you can experience what your child might see.
Know who their friends are
Talk to them about being cautious about what they share with people online. Remind them that even though people they’ve met online might feel like friends they may not be who they say they are.
Extracurricular activities
Engaging in your child in after school clubs can help to keep them off the streets where they could be groomed or engage in criminal activity. Furthermore, it could lead to them discovering a new passion.