Derby and Derbyshire Launch New Service Addressing Child Exploitation
Catch22 today announces the launch of Derby and Derbyshire C.A.R.E.S – a service commissioned by Police and Crime Commissioner Hardyal Dhindsa, and Derby and Derbyshire Local Authorities, to tackle child exploitation across the region.
Photograph shows L-R Case Support Worker Helen West next to Service Manager Marc Stevens and Case Support Worker Simone Gill v
In 2019, Derbyshire Police recorded more than 200 incidents related to child sexual exploitation, covering both physical contact and online exploitation.
Derby and Derbyshire C.A.R.E.S will include long-term interventions to reduce risk and to help young people cope and recover from the impacts of exploitation.
The service will share its Catch22 resources and teach protective behaviours in schools. By working with young people at risk of exploitation, as well as their parents and guardians, the one-on-one and group support will empower them and their families to stay safe, free of charge.
Catch22’s Marc Stevens and Service Manager for Derby and Derbyshire C.A.R.E.S says:
“It is everyone’s business to care about the exploitation of our young people – whether it’s using the most vulnerable people in our communities to commit criminal behaviour or abusing them physically.
“Children are not a means and as adults, we have a responsibility to support victims and their families, to minimise risk, and to do everything we can to prevent this behaviour from occurring.”
Hardyal Dhindsa, Derbyshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, adds:
“Abuse and exploitation, in any form, is unacceptable and its impact on those who have been victimised in this way can last a lifetime. The fact that children and young people can be treated in this way fills me with horror.
“I think I have a duty to provide these young and vulnerable victims with appropriate
support services, that can be tailored to their individual needs.
“You don’t have to report the incident to the police to get support. While we always encourage people to report such experience to the police, we understand they may be hesitant to come forward if they have to talk to the police first. It’s more important that people get the help they need.
“The service is designed specifically to support those subjected to this type of behaviour. I
truly hope it will help them to cope and recover and move forward with their lives.”
Catch22’s Children at Risk of Exploitation (CRE) services include, but are not limited to, victims of child sexual exploitation, child criminal exploitation, county lines, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and child victims of human trafficking and modern-day slavery.
Catch22 delivers similar services in Stoke-on-trent, Staffordshire, Coventry and in Pan Merseyside. The organisation was the first in the UK to deliver a service which collectively addressed sexual and criminal exploitation, recognising the often overlapping risk factors between the two.
The Derby and Derbyshire service is commissioned to work intensively with young people across the regions at any one time, from 2020 until 2021.
The launch comes on National Child Exploitation Awareness Day, delivered by NWG Network, where everyone is encouraged to think, spot and speak out against abuse and to adopt a zero tolerance approach to adults developing inappropriate relationships with children.
More News From Amber Valley Info
| News Have you seen missing girl Megan From Ripley Have you seen Megan? The 15-year-old has been reported missing from her home in Ripley. read more | |
| A night at the museum for the 5th Dronfield Hilltop Cubs Great British Car Journey, the award-winning classic car museum in Ambergate, Derbyshire, hosted the pack for a very special read more | |
| Alfreton chapel with planning for redevelopment as two homes goes under the hammer The former Methodist chapel in the village of Westhouses near Alfreton is to go up for auction thi read more | |
| Love Sadler Gate Promises Blooming Good Time at Spring Market Love Sadler Gate, the collective of independent businesses in the iconic Derby Cathedral Quarter street, will be holdin read more | |
| Lord Burlington opens iconic Heage Windmill On Saturday around 120 guests welcomed Lord Burlington to Heage Windmill for the Official Opening of the mill following extensive repairs read more | |
The Amber Valley Info Noticeboard
| Cold Callers claiming to be working on behalf of Derbyshire County Council Policehave seen and increase in reports of 'cold callers' where people are claiming to be working on behal read more | |
| Subscriptions For Amber Valley Borough Councils 2024 Garden Waste Service Are Now Open The garden waste collection service is available to all residents in Amber Valley except for r read more | |
| Mobile networks are being improved in Ripley Mobile networks are being improved in Ripley boosting the speed, performance and coverage of mobile services in the area. read more | |
| Trent Barton Buses - Extension Of The £2 Single Fare Cap Trent Barton Buses have confirmed their participation in the extension of the £2 single fare cap until the end o read more | |
| Crich Tramway Village Looking For An Engineering Manager The successful candidate for this post will have excellent management skills gained whilst working in a practical workshop e read more | |
