Learn how to spot the signs of child criminal exploitation as Get Safe team tour county

This week marks the five-year anniversary of Worcestershire's Get Safe programme - a multi-agency partnership committed to tackling child exploitation and supporting victims and their families who experience this.

The partnership includes: West Mercia Police, Worcestershire Children First, a range of NHS health services, education, youth justice, housing, probation and early help services, working together with district councils and the voluntary sector.

The team will be going on tour in the Sunshine Radio bus to six locations across the county to talk to the public about child criminal exploitation. You can find the Get Safe team throughout the week at the below locations:

• Outside Crowngate Shopping Centre, Worcester - Monday 24 June, from 10:30am to 12:30pm and from 2pm to 4:30pm
• Malvern Retail Park - Tuesday 25 June between 10am and 12noon
• HOW College (car park 2), Bromsgrove - Tuesday 25 June between 2pm and 4:30pm
• Kidderminster Youth Centre - Wednesday 26 June from 10:30am to 12:30pm and from 2pm to 4:30pm
• Pershore Youth Centre - Thursday 27 June, from 10:30am to 12:30pm and from 2pm to 4:30pm
• HOW College, Redditch - Friday 28 June between 2pm and 4:30pm

The team will be on hand to help local young people, parents/carers, professionals and the public to learn how to spot the signs of child criminal exploitation.

Emma Brittain, Director of Early Help, Children In Need and the Family Front Door at Worcestershire Children First said: "The Get Safe partnership continues to work together to identify young people who are being exploited, or are at risk of being exploited, and provide the relevant help, support and intervention needed to keep them safe whilst working to disrupt and tackle the perpetrators. Child exploitation is child abuse, and it is a crime.

"It's important that everyone knows how to spot the signs of child criminal exploitation as it takes many forms and can be both online and in person. These can include a change in their behaviour or routines, having unexplained money, clothing or gifts, new "friends" they have met online or intend to meet in person.

"We would urge anyone with a concern about a child or activity in their community to speak out and help us tackle this challenging and ever-changing form of harm and abuse to our children here in Worcestershire."

For more information about child criminal exploitation, visit the Get Safe website.

If you have an immediate safeguarding concern for a child, you must call the police on 999.

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