Council updated on child sexual abuse
Zero tolerance priority appeal
Protecting children from sexual exploitation has been placed high in the agenda of the future Perth and Kinross Council.
Last week PKC moved to update its zero tolerance approach to child sex abuse.
Councillors agreed that such criminality has “no place in our community” after agreeing to step up their understanding of ways to eradicate the issue.
At the full council meeting on Wednesday last week councillors were told of progress being made in the training courses and masterclasses being offered to frontline staff to tackle the issue.
PKC and its partners have been seeking to highlight the serious matter, including with events, and the meeting noted the success of the fifth annual event at Perth Playhouse, showing films raising awareness of online abuse.
Bill Atkinson, Perth and Kinross’ chief social work officer, said that those affected by such abuse and exploitation needed strong support from key organisations.
He explained: “Through our annual event in the cinema and a focus on increasing awareness in the nighttime economy and those in the field who may come across this issue, work has been under way to develop work further on intervention, disruption, prosecution and recovery.
“These children need a network of people built around them to help them move on from the trauma of child sexual abuse.
“We are committed to keeping children safe from child sexual exploitation, but always in this area there is no room for complacency, so there is still work to do.”
The elected members were presented with a new plan to progress the council’s zero tolerance to child sexual abuse.
It sets out working in partnership with young people to improve public information and also with organisations such as Police Scotland and Barnardo’s Scotland.
More training courses will also be rolled out in the coming months.
The plans also include enhancing therapeutic support services on offer to children to help them recover from sexual trauma, including sexual abuse and exploitation.
Mr Atkinson added there was no reason to believe Perth is different from other areas and towns, and it is important not to assume child sexual exploitation only takes place in larger cities.
Cllr Bob Band called for the next council administration to continue the work being done to tackle child sexual exploitation.
He said: “We, as should everyone, have zero tolerance. This is an enormously important issue and an important area for this council to prioritise. We can never be complacent.
“The fact this is an on-going programme, I hope the new council continue to rank this as a priority.
“Zero tolerance to abuse and exploitation, as concluded in this report, remains a key priority and I want to support this enormously.”
Cllr Gordon Walker seconded Cllr Band’s comments and said: “It (child sex abuse) has no place in our community, so I ask that this policy is supported.”
Police Scotland has been taking a lead role in defeating CSE including with high-profile posters including this one from 2016