There is no silver bullet when it comes to keeping children safe from exploitation
Natasha Kaplinsky
Monday, July 31, 2023
As a journalist and newsreader, I have spent much of my career covering some truly harrowing stories. Very few topics are as shocking and upsetting as the abuse and exploitation of children.
Child exploitation is one of those terrible things that we just assume would never happen in our own families, but during my time as Barnardo’s president I have come to understand that absolutely no child is free from risk – especially when it comes to grooming online.
Sadly, there are dangerous adults everywhere who are always finding new ways to harm children. The combined crises of the pandemic and the astronomically high cost-of-living have created a perfect storm. More children are now particularly vulnerable to this kind of abuse: either because they’re missing from school, struggling with their wellbeing, or worried about their family’s finances. All these factors can make young people more susceptible to exploitation.
With the summer holidays around the corner, many children will inevitably be spending more time without adult supervision, and very often on their smartphones – gaming or browsing social media, leaving them more vulnerable to unwelcome contact.
Meanwhile, recent research from Barnardo’s found that this year, many working parents are having to cut back on essential spending, including food and clothing, and there simply is not enough left for holiday clubs and other activities.
That means that all too often, children who are being coerced or manipulated into sexual activity or trafficking drugs could be simply invisible to adults for weeks on end. We already know from police records that there is a dip in reports of these crimes during the school holidays. And that is not because children are not being harmed during the summer – it is because they are just not being identified and supported.
There is no silver bullet when it comes to keeping children safe from these unthinkable crimes – but it is absolutely clear that we must create more youth clubs and safe spaces for young people, so they have trusted adults looking out for them during the school holidays. That is even more important now, with many parents feeling they just can’t afford to take time off work.
We also need much more specialist support, such as therapy and counselling for victims, to help children come to terms with come what’s happened to them, help to break the cycle of abuse, and start to rebuild their lives.
No-one wants to think about children being exploited, but it is only by facing these ‘taboo’ subjects, that we can make our communities safer – both on and offline.
There is an urgent need for greater investment and Government leadership on this issue, but there is also a role for you and me. As parents, friends and neighbours, we all need to look out for children this summer – making sure we are alert to signs they could be at risk, and letting young people know that we are there if they need our help.
Natasha Kaplinsky is a journalist and newsreader. She is also president of charity Barnardo’s.
