Charities tackle child criminal exploitation

Crimestoppers and Barnardo’s Scotland have joined forces to raise awareness of child criminal exploitation.

And the charities are encouraging youngsters in Monklands to pass on what they know or suspect “100 per cent anonymously”.

Using real-life anonymised case studies from Barnardo’s Scotland, Fearless.org created a series of hardhitting digital animations that featured on Snapchat and Instagram.

The short clips told the stories of three young people who were exploited and forced to commit crime.

Lyndsay Mcdade from Crimestoppers told the Advertiser: “There has been a marked increase in child sexual exploitation during the coronavirus pandemic – particularly online.

“Whilst it’s difficult to predict how the easing of lockdown will affect child safety and criminality, our learning from last year shows a pattern of increased forms of other exploitation types such as county lines and organised shoplifting when travel can happen more freely again.

“Therefore, this campaign aimed to equip young people with a greater understanding of the dangers of criminal exploitation in order to reduce the massive harm that it causes to young people in Scotland every day.”

All reports through Fearless.org are 100 per cent anonymous, with those involved unable to trace IP addresses or any contact details of those reporting.

Information provided could save a child or young person’s life.

Daljeet Dagon from Barnardo’s Scotland added: “If we are to effectively respond to children and young people at most risk of being exploited we need to be better at identifying child criminal exploitation, disrupting perpetrators who prey on the young and vulnerable and protect children and young people who are victims of this crime.

“As we come out of lockdown and young people become more visible, we urge everyone to be vigilant, be aware of the signs of exploitation and report any activity which you think is putting a child or young person at risk to Fearless.org”

If any young person feels like they are being forced to do things against their will, this is exploitation and the charities strongly urge them to speak to a trusted adult or contact Childline on 0800 1111; in an emergency always call 999.