Mind the Gap: CSE Online Awareness Conference

Mind the Gap, an 'online awareness' conference held by the CSE county sub group, aims to educate professionals and fill the knowledge gap which often exists around young people's use of social media and how they make use of it in daily life.

Decision makers in Norfolk, such as Headteachers/Principals and heads of departments, are invited to this event at the Mercure Hotel, 121-131 Boundary Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 2BA, on Wednesday 28 September 2016 - 9:00am arrival for a prompt 9:30am start.

Detective Superintendent Julie Wvendth, Chair of the county's CSE Strategic Sub Group and Head of Norfolk Constabulary's Safeguarding and Harm Reduction Department said: Child sexual exploitation is child abuse and can affect any child, anytime, anywhere. CSE has no barriers any child can be sexually exploited no matter what culture, ethnicity or religion.

Everyone has a role to play in raising awareness of CSE, the safeguarding of our children is everybody's business.

It is crucial that decision makers from agencies across the county are aware of the dangers social media can pose, to enable us to take the right steps to help young people.

CSE is a form of child abuse where a victim is often given something - food, money, drugs, alcohol or other gifts, or what they perceive as love and attention - in exchange for sexual activity with the abuser. Offenders target vulnerable young people and use their power - such as physical, financial and emotional control - over the child to sexually abuse them. Violence, coercion and intimidation are common.

The event is being sponsored by Norfolk Constabulary and Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk.

For more details and to register your interest, please visit the event's web page.