Chelsea’s Choice Highlighting the Dangers of Grooming, Child Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse Throughout The County
Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Peter McCall continues to fund the powerful play ‘Chelsea’s Choice’ to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation (CSE) in secondry schools throughout Cumbria. In preparation for the National CSE Awareness day 18th March and throughout the year, building awareness amongst young people to help prevent them becoming victims of CSE, and to know what to do if they are approached or unsure, is essential.
The production by AlterEgo Creative Solutions, a not-for-profit organisation has continued to receive excellent feedback from audiences regarding the issues of grooming, child sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, and has also created a greater understanding that boys, as well as girls, can be victims of grooming and sexual exploitation.
Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Peter McCall said: “Keeping our young people safe is of paramount importance, and I will continue to invest in schemes aimed at safeguarding our youngesters from sexual crime.
“Whenever I have seen the play, I am struck by how impactful it is, and the pupils in the audience are spellbound by the excellent story telling of the dangers of falling prey to grooming online.
“Last year the play was delivered to more than 5,400 students across the county and we are hoping for more of the same this year. The production has a hard hitting message, and sending out this extremely positive impactful message is exactly what is needed to try and prevent young people from being at risk online.”
Detective Inspector Dan StQuintin comments: “Chelsea’s Choice is a powerful piece of work that effectively raises awareness on a very important issue and encourages young people to recognise the signs of grooming and exploitation.
“Although a young person may not realise they are being exploited at the time, CSE can cause a lot of damage to their physical, emotional and psychological health. Criminals who target you people in this way are manipulative and often convince their victims that they truly care for them. This means that many victims of CSE do not self-report it, because often, a victim does not even realise they are being exploited or realise they are a victim.
“CSE can happen to any child, including those in Cumbria, which is why it is so important to raise awareness of the signs and the dangers.”
