Protecting children – empowering communities

4 October 2010

A new online tool to help parents and carers protect their children from sexual abuse is being launched as more police force areas go live with the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme.

Under the scheme, launched by the Home Office in September 2008, members of the public can ask the police to check whether people who have contact with their children pose a risk. If the individuals have convictions for sexual offences against children or pose a risk of causing serious harm to the child or children concerned then the police can chose to disclose information to the parents.

The scheme rolled out to 11 more police force areas this month, joining 13 which have already started operating the scheme. The remaining services will come online by next spring.

The new website www.parentsprotect.co.uk, set up by Stop it Now! UK and Ireland and the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, will compliment the scheme and is designed to raise awareness of the issue of child sexual abuse, answer questions and give parents and carers the information they need to help protect children.

The site holds a 30-minute learning programme which allows users to work through the issues at their own pace. The video details some of the key issues around child sexual abuse, including: what sexual abuse is, who abuses children, why people abuse children, offending behaviour, signs to look out for in children and adults, how to put in place a family safety plan to help protect children and where to go for help and advice.

As part of the drive to protect children from harm, over 1200 copies of the learning programme are being sent to Children’s Centres in the 11 areas going live with the Disclosure Scheme.

Home Secretary Theresa May said:
"The further roll-out of this scheme is an important step forward for child safety in this country and will mean even more children are protected from potential harm.

"I urge anyone who has concerns to contact their local police force immediately. But it's also incredibly important that parents and carers use tools like this website to gainawareness and understanding of the issues, and learn about the steps they can take to protect their children."

ACPO Lead on the Management of Sexual and Violent Offenders, Chief
Constable Paul West, said:

"One of the police service's most fundamental roles is to do whatever we can to protect people from harm. But preventing and combating child sexual abuse is not just the responsibility of the police service, it is everyone's responsibility.

"The more that parents and other carers of children can learn in order to raise awareness and understanding of the steps that can be taken to prevent child sexual abuse, the more children will be freed up to enjoy happy and fulfilling childhoods".

Donald Findlater, director of Stop it Now! UK and Ireland and director of
research and development at the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, said:

"While it’s important that parents and carers go to the police with concerns, it is vital they have sound information to protect children at all times, when they have a specific concern and when they don’t. There are practical steps adults can take to protect children and this new resource helps them to do that.

"Additionally, adults need to know what to look out for in other adults. Sex offenders are mostly not the monsters commonly portrayed in the media. They are people we know, often people we love and care for. Recognising that someone close to us could pose risk to children is not easy to think about. But, if we know what to look out for and where to go for help and advice we are much better placed to protect children from harm."

The learning programme and associated advice and support can be found at
www.parentsprotect.co.uk.

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