Members of GMP’s Volunteer Police Cadet units have been taking part in a series of sessions raising awareness of child exploitation as part of a tailored programme which promotes open discussion.
The programme contains an overview of key exploitation types such as child criminal exploitation (CCE) including county lines; child sexual exploitation (CSE), child trafficking, child-on-child abuse (peer-on-peer), and online harm.
The cadets range in age from 13-17, and regularly learn about all manner of law-related activities, including how to spot the signs of potential harm and identify support networks around them.
While some of the sessions have already taken place, more are planned for the coming weeks, with each of GMP’s district cadet units receiving inputs.
These initiatives aim to prioritise the child's perspective in the police response to exploitation, offering insights into contextual harm and identifying safe places and spaces for children and young people.
Sessions will equip cadets with myth-busting information, utilising case studies and scenarios to encourage critical thinking about the various types of exploitation and the tactics perpetrators use to target children.
Scenarios include open discussions about emerging concerns such as vaping and the distribution of vapes within some schools, through a contextual safeguarding lens, and the reality of the problem’s scale affecting children both nationally and across Greater Manchester.
Last week’s Child Exploitation Awareness Day (Tuesday 18 March) further provided an opportunity for officers and staff to deepen their understanding of various types of abuse and challenge any misconceptions they have.
Rosie Hyland, safeguarding lead at GMP, said: “These sessions were designed to empower our cadets in recognising signs of exploitation and to enhance their understanding of the complexities surrounding contextual harm.
“I am immensely proud of our cadets and their active engagement throughout these sessions. They have contributed valuable insights into daily pressures children can face both on and offline.
“We will continue to explore ways in which we can improve our service to children across Greater Manchester in the months and years going forward.”
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