A safe environment for vulnerable children

In partnership with the British Transport Police (BTP), Railway Children has developed the Safeguarding Children on Transport (SCT) programme, to enhance transport staff’s awareness of vulnerable children and young people using the transport network and to identify appropriate responses to make public transport a safer place.

Every five minutes a child runs away from home in the UK, and it is estimated that 16,500 children are at risk of sexual exploitation every year, according to research by the Children’s Commissioner. Children in need of care and affection will often seek or accept this in inappropriate places, which is often how child sex offenders and abusers operate to groom children without them realising.

From April 2015 to March 2016, BTP received almost 4,000 reports of child safeguarding incidents at railway stations around the UK. The most common incidents were of children running away or having been reported missing, suspected of (or a victim of) crime, or simply considered to be at risk.

Children often behave in ways we perceive to be troublesome, but this can be the result of things that have happened or are happening to them. By enhancing the awareness of railway staff and retailers at stations, we can create a network of people who understand, identify and support children who are vulnerable or at risk across the railways.

A report in 2014 by the Parliamentary Transport Select Committee on security on the railways also recognised the vulnerabilities children face in and around railway stations, and that improvements to safeguarding are required in order to keep them protected.

BTP Assistant Chief Constable Mark Newton says: “Children are a priority. And in forming this collaborative group, we are able to share our professional knowledge and ensure that we safeguard children in the best way we possibly can.

“Staff play a vital role in spotting and reporting unusual behaviour. They can be our ‘eyes and ears’ as they go about their day-to-day work, by providing us with the information we need to recognise signs of vulnerability or potential exploitation.

“We all have a responsibility to look after children. And while these incidents are rare, if you see something that doesn’t feel right please report it to us - however small or insignificant you may think it is. Your information may just help to save a young life.”

For more information about the Safeguarding Children on Transport (SCT) programme, please contact Railway Children at SCT@ railwaychildren.org.uk or go to www. railwaychildren.org.uk/ SCT