This week is Look Closer Awareness Week (8 – 12 February 2021). Organised by The Children’s Society, the campaign is supported by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and police forces across the country including British Transport Police.
The campaign is to raise awareness of child exploitation and urges the public and people still going out work to keep an eye out for children who may be at risk in public spaces, which continue to be in use during lockdown.
These spaces include parks, supermarkets, takeaways and banks, as well as in taxis and on trains. All places where it may be easier for criminals to groom and transport children and exploit them into illegal activity in plain sight.
The charity says exploited children and young people may not always appear vulnerable or act the way we expect victims to behave, possibly displaying angry or aggressive behaviour which can be a sign of trauma.