Parents can be 'missing link' to stop child sex predators, says Worcester detective

DCI Rik Klair wants Worcestershire parents to play a key role in the fight against online grooming and other forms of child sexual exploitation.

The detective chief inspector, who is responsible for vulnerability in Worcestershire, says there has always been child sexual exploitation, it is only the methods which have changed.

He wants children and parents to feel empowered to tackle online sex offenders and feel they have a voice and the confidence to come forward.

With many children now owning smart phones with access to the internet, one of the most important things parents can do to protect their children is to have a conversation with them about the risks.

Speaking from his Worcester office, DCI Klair says it is vital that parents and guardians take an interest in the online life of their children in the same way they would in their ‘real world’ life such as when they play football outside or visit a friend.

West Mercia Police has recorded 73 grooming offences since April last year, 37 involving Facebook, Snapchat or Instagram. Eight offences involved victims aged 11 and under, with 48 involving victims aged 12 to 15.

More than 3,000 offences have been recorded in England and Wales in the first year since a new anti-grooming law came into force, with the youngest child targeted aged just five years old.

Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram were the top three most-recorded sites out of 80 different methods used in grooming offences. The new crime of sexual communication with a child came into force on April 3, 2017 following an NSPCC campaign.

We reported in the Worcester News in April how 61-year-old Richard Hayes-Hall, a former Worcester dentist from Malvern, went to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old boy after grooming.

However, the boy was in reality a police officer.

While Thomas Leedham, aged 24, of Ombersley Road, Worcester, contacted a 12-year-old girl via Snapchat.

James Colquitt, aged 23, formerly of Worcester, was jailed for inciting a child aged 13 to engage in sexual activity as he chatted online about ‘zombies and Xbox’.

DCI Klair said: “From the perspective of the public, we can’t keep children safe on our own. We will do everything we can. We will be online and in the real world to provide support and guidance. But the people who can also protect their children are parents.”

In his view, parents can help simply by having a conversation with their children about the issue, by not being confrontational and building trust so children and young people can have the confidence to tell them if something happens or preferably before it happens.

“They have to take a really healthy interest in their child’s online activity, a bit like they would if they were playing football. You would not send a child swimming on their own would you?

“Have the conversation. Have that healthy relationship and a very real interest in what they’re doing online.

“The key is not being confrontational, keeping that trust and keeping that door open so your child can come to you anytime. The child can never be to blame for anything like that.

“Prevention is the key. We don’t want victims. We feel if this happens we’ve failed.”

The DCI, a father himself, said that those who groom children often have a ‘strategy’, trying to drive a wedge between parents and their child and often carrying their own ‘risk assessment’, targeting those children who are most vulnerable.

A child who has a strong, close relationship with his or her parents is at far less risk of being groomed or sexually exploited.

Preventing grooming and sexual exploitation could have huge ramifications for society as a whole as research suggests that four or more ‘adverse childhood experiences’ may lead to problems in adulthood, including substance misuse and a higher chance of contact with the criminal justice system and prison.

Police are increasingly using social media to catch perpetrators.

DCI Klair said: “If you’re talking to someone online, doing something you should not be doing, it could be a detective and you will be getting a knock on your door. We will use whatever methods we need to within the law.

“We try to use all the tools we can to prevent harm to people and particularly children."

Support is already available locally with police community support officers embedded within certain schools.

Officers also visit schools, often in year six, to educate children about the risks.

The strategy to fight child sexual exploitation sees close links and information sharing between the police, children's services, health professionals and charity Barnardo's.

A harm assessment unit is based at County Hall which helps with this joined-up approach.

Warning signs

• Children who go missing from home which can be a ‘red flag’. They may also be defensive about their location and activities, often returning home late or staying out all night (again, perpetrators know that parents will immediately suspect something is wrong if their child stays out all night, so they may initially drop the child off at the home address and before their curfew. They may even pick them up outside the school gates).

• Children who have gifts such as new clothes they could not ordinarily afford such as jewellery, a mobile phone or iPads.

• Secretive behaviour or changes in mood. According to Parents Against Child Sexual Exploitation (Pace) children may be particularly prone to sharp mood swings. Many parents come to Pace reporting that their child seems to have acquired an entirely different personality. Whilst mood swings are common to all adolescents, it is the severity of the behaviour change that is most indicative.

• They may receive odd calls and messages on their mobiles or social media pages from unknown, possibly much older associates from outside their normal social network.

• Your child may also exhibit a sudden change in dressing patterns or musical taste, look tired and/or unwell, and sleep at unusual hours, have marks or scars on their body which they try to conceal, adopt new ‘street language’ or respond to a new street name

Help:

• Convicted sex offenders have to sign a register and notify police of any change in their circumstances. Sexual harm prevention orders mean police can restrict an offender's use of the internet. A breach of such an order is of itself a criminal offence. Criminal behaviour orders can also be used to control and monitor their behaviour. A new civil orders officer is in the process of being recruited for this role.

• Those who believe a child is in immediate danger should call 999.

• Any concerns about safeguarding can be raised by contacting 'family front door' which links to children's services on 01905 822666.

• Those who believe they are at risk of committing grooming or other sexual offences can visit ‘stop it now’ or visit the confidential helpline on 0808 1000 900.

• Parents Against Child Sexual Exploitation offers advice about how to protect children and help them exit exploitative relationships.

• A children’s independent advisory group for young people aged under 18 is being established. This group will discuss a range of issues, including child sexual exploitation, improving access to this hard to reach group. It is hoped the first meeting will take place this August at Worcester Police Station in partnership with Worcester City Council's youth engagement team.