‘NOWHERE is unaffected by the constant threat of child abuse’ – that’s the message from Dorset Police as three new national child protection reports are released.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) recently published three national reports on the police services approach to child protection.
Between January 2014 and June 2015, HMIC conducted 21 inspections of different aspects of the police response to child protection issues.
These included eight inspections of individual forces as part of the National Child Protection Inspection programme.
Dorset was not one of the eight forces inspected.
The reports cover the police role in keeping children safe, how police deal with online offending and exploitation, and how police and partners share information to safeguard children.
The reports found a continuing rise in referrals to the police of child protection cases, most notably some elements of child sexual exploitation, such as online grooming.
In the reports HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Sir Tom Winsor, said it is ‘imperative that police forces do all they can’ to ensure the vulnerable are protected and cared for, and that they and the community get justice.
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Naughton, of the Dorset Police Public Protection Unit, labelled child abuse as ‘an abhorrent crime’ that has remained ‘hidden in society for far too long’.
He said Dorset Police are committed to ‘rooting out child abuse and stopping it’ and that teachers, GPs, parents and other adults have a responsibility to spot the signs of abuse and act.
DCI Naughton added: “In November 2013 the Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) was formed and in 2014 another specialist multi-agency team dedicated to investigating cases of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) was created to safeguard vulnerable children.”
There is also a dedicated Child Abuse Investigation Team focused on investigating all other forms of child abuse, sexual abuse and neglect.
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, Martyn Underhill said: “Dorset may be one of the safest places to live in the country but nowhere is unaffected by the real and constant threat of child abuse or neglect.
“It can affect any child regardless of their social or ethnic background.
“We are investing more resources into Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) to pursue and prosecute those offenders who exploit vulnerable young people.
“We are determined to prevent CSE, abuse or neglect - and where these crimes happen, prosecute those responsible robustly.
“Children are our future and they deserve to grow up happy in a safe environment.”
The Dorset Safer Schools and Communities Team (SSCT) offer a range of internet safety education packages to all professionals supporting children and young people across Dorset.
These help to raise awareness of the risks associated with the internet, including online grooming, cyber-crime, sexting and child sexual exploitation.
The Paedophile Online Investigation Team, CSE Team and SSCT can be contacted on 101.
Anyone with any information relating to child abuse should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.
CONTACT ME:
t: 01305 830986
e: tara.cox@dorsetecho.co.uk
twitter: @DorsetEchoTara
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