CUMBRIA Police are uniting with people from across the country to highlight the issues surrounding Child Sexual Exploitation as part of a national awareness day on Friday.

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is a form of sexual abuse that involves the manipulation and / or coercion of young people under the age of 18 into sexual activity. It can take many forms, for example it could be a young person having sex in return for attention, gifts, alcohol or cigarettes.

The National CSE Awareness Day aims to encourage everyone to think, spot and speak out against abuse before a situation escalates any further.

Specialist officers, along with Cumbria’s Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB), Cumbria County Council Children’s Services and the NSPCC, will be holding a Facebook chat event between 6 and 7pm tomorrow to provide answers to any questions people may have about CSE – whether that be a young person who is concerned about a friend, or a parent who wants to be able to spot the signs of CSE.

The event, which follows a social media campaign by the Constabulary to heighten awareness of CSE, will also provide a link for people to ask questions anonymously.

Members of the public can join in with the chat  here.

Police and partners are also taking the opportunity to raise awareness of the dangers associated with young people taking and sharing indecent images.

Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Neil Cooper said: “The taking and sharing of indecent images between young people is already a problem nationally but it is something that is now becoming very apparent here in Cumbria.

“People think that they are protected by certain apps on phones, and that they trust the person they are sharing them with, but I’d encourage all young people to stop and think before they do this.

“That person may be your girlfriend, boyfriend or friend today, but will they still be tomorrow?

“Once an image is sent you lose control of it and it can be used by other people for their own purposes which may be to coerce or exploit children. It also needs to be remembered that the posting of indecent images on the internet is a criminal offence.”

The Facebook event follows the successful showcasing of the ‘Chelsea’s Choice’ theatre production, which has toured Cumbria for the last four weeks.

The hard-hitting show has highlighted how boys and girls can be groomed by adults for the purposes of sexual exploitation, and has shown the devastating consequences this can have on a young person’s life.

Forty-eight performances have taken place across the county in schools (mainstream, independent and pupil referral units), with extra evening shows arranged for parents after it was recognised that there is often a lack of understanding of CSE among parents.

Those who have seen the performance or heard about it may have further questions, and can use the Facebook chat to raise these with professionals to get advice or more understanding.

T/DCI Cooper continued: “I am extremely pleased that the PCC funded Chelsea’s Choice returning to Cumbria for the second year running, to be performed for hundreds of people – young people but also parents, teachers and other professionals who have benefitted from having their awareness of CSE heightened.

“We work hard to protect children and vulnerable people in Cumbria, and often rely on people to help us do this, so again I’d like to urge people, if they see or know something, to report it.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Richard Rhodes said: “We must do whatever we can to help raise awareness of CSE in the county, and I believe that through campaigns such as this we can help protect the children that may become potential victims. I was particularly pleased to support Chelsea’s Choice again as it is a powerful production that delivers a very strong message and resulted in several referrals last year.”

A spokesperson for the LSCB said: “Cumbria LSCB has worked relentlessly to continue to raise awareness of the risk of CSE, and ensure that those professionals working with children and young people at risk of, or victims of, this type of crime are protected and supported.

“We have a number of key working streams to make sure that prevention and protection remain high on the agendas of our workforce as well as raising awareness with young people and their families.”

A spokesperson for Cumbria County Council’s Children’s Services said: “Children Services contribute to the multi-agency work for children and young people who have been identified as at risk of CSE.

“Managers and staff remain focused on the needs of the individual young person and their family whilst working in cooperation with the police and others to help disrupt and prosecute those who seek to exploit.”