Grooming: The Truth
TRUE STORY
"Its been 18years since I was a missing a child for 7 days. I was found just before the television appeal was to be aired for my National Search. I was sexually & physically abused by multiple men. My case was thrown out by CPS due to a lack of evidence." All preparators continued to walk free and have never been held accountable. If your reading this and your under 16 and speaking to someone older I urge you to reach out. We can help and ensure your safety and report it sooner rather than later. Its not your fault and don't be ashamed or scared. - CEO
"Grooming gangs are responsible for two reports of child sex abuse every day, police figures suggest. The data, which comes from all 43 forces in England and Wales, records 717 grooming gang cases in 2023 and a further 572 in the first nine months of last year. The figures were collected as part of the Hydrant Programme, which collates and analyses statistics on 'group-based' sexual abuse, including the ethnicity of perpetrators." - Daily Mail 10/01/2025
What is it?
Grooming is when a person builds a relationship with a child, young person or an adult who is at risk, so they can abuse them and manipulate them into doing things. Grooming is manipulative behaviour that the abuser uses to gain access to a potential victim, coerce them to agree to the abuse, and reduce the risk of being caught. While these tactics are used most often against younger children, teens and vulnerable adults are also at risk. Grooming can occur in person or online, but under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, any form of communication with a child for the purpose of sexually abusing them is considered grooming.
Signs & Red Flags
As a parent/guardian there's a few things to look out for in a case where your child may be being groomed: sudden changes in behaviour, spending more time away or going missing from home or school, being secretive about how they’re spending their time, having unexplained gifts, big or small, misusing alcohol and/or drugs, having a friendship or relationship with a much older person, using sexual language you wouldn’t expect them to know, staying out late, conscious of appearance, dressing in a different manner.