The exploitation of children can take many forms and South Yorkshire Police & Crime Commissioner, Dr Alan Billings, is supporting National Child Exploitation Awareness Day to help to raise awareness of both child criminal (CCE) and sexual exploitation (CSE).

Today marks National Child Exploitation Awareness Day, led by the NWG Exploitation Response Unit, with the aim of highlighting the issues surrounding child exploitation; encouraging everyone to think, spot and speak out against abuse and adopt a zero-tolerance approach.

Dr Billings said: “We all have a part to play in recognising and reporting child exploitation and this starts with understanding that it can happen to children of any age, from any background. It can happen in the home, in the community and, increasingly, online.

“Each of us must be vigilant, able to recognise the signs of child exploitation and as organisations we must work together in partnership to educate young people and offer early intervention to ensure they understand the risks and can make good decisions if approached by organised crime gangs. Similarly, we must help those at risk of sexual exploitation know the signs that they may be being groomed is vital in ensuring victims or potential victims get the help they need.”

 Find out more about National Child Exploitation Awareness Day here – STOP CE – National Child Exploitation Awareness Day (stop-cse.org)