Lincolnshire Police lead the way in online child safeguarding
Lincolnshire Police Force is pioneering a new safeguarding initiative, the first of its kind in the UK. Lincs Police’s ‘Safeguarding Network’ has been introduced to help support the Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) with safeguarding referrals.
The network is made up of 25 volunteers, who signed up to the role in addition to their main duties, and is now in operation across Lincolnshire. These volunteers received additional training from leading safeguarding expert, Al “Special Al” Mackenzie.
Mackenzie is a Special Constable and delivers safeguarding training in schools across the UK as well as working with POLIT as their safeguarding lead. His training was also supported by PC Colin Longmuir, the longest-serving Victim Identification Officer in the UK.
How does the Safeguarding Network work?
The network was the brainchild of Detective Sgt Sam Ward, who was also responsible for rolling it out across the county. Explaining how the Safeguarding Network would work in practice, he said:
“An example of where the network would support our efforts to keep our residents safe would be a child having uploaded inappropriate images of themselves to the internet. A member of the Safeguarding Network team will visit families, making sure there are no coercion concerns and offer online safeguarding advice. These visits offer us the opportunity to engage with young people and their parents and ultimately prevent the possible exploitation of these children.”
Engaging with the Community
The Safeguarding Network is working to bring about new ways of supporting and informing victims and their families. They carry out safeguarding visits across the county, providing resources and advice to vulnerable and at-risk demographics in the area.
They recently introduced a special lanyard for all the network’s volunteers. These lanyards not only identify individuals as members of the Safeguarding Network, they also feature a QR code which links to a host of resources.
Commenting on the lanyards, DS Ward says:
Image Credit: Lincolnshire Police
“Our engagement through the network is now made all the more convenient with use of the QR code on the lanyard. It's a practical, environmentally friendly and often more convenient way for people to receive information, saving staff from carrying round a stock of different leaflets that may need updating and replenishing.”
Further Information
Safeguarding children from harm online is a major concern for all child caregivers. If you need more information or guidance on how to help protect those in your care, take a look at some of the resources below:
NCA-CEOP
The National Crime Agency CEOP has produced the below website which has lots of useful information available for children of all ages. It also has lots of information for parents and professionals. Including reporting child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation.
ChildNet
Advice for parents, carers, young people and also teachers and schools on internet safety.
UK Safer Internet Centre
Advice for parents, carers, young people and also teachers/schools. It also has a hotline link to the Internet Watch Foundation for reporting illegal images and videos.
Internet Matters
Useful advice for parents, carers, teachers and schools. Their website contains downloadable guides and useful advice on parental controls.
Parents Protect
Useful advice for parents.
The Breck Foundation
Site created by the parents of a young male groomed online and then murdered in the UK. Advice for teachers, children and parents.
Internet slang or urban dictionary
Online dictionary of internet slang and abbreviations. Useful for parents for decoding texts, chat or emails.