The danger to young people of online grooming is the topic of a video which warns of the tricks used by paedophiles to target victims.
The ‘Who Are You Really Talking To?’ video shows how easy it can be for young victims to be conned by predators posing as teenagers to lure them into sexual exploitation. The video, which was filmed with actors, shows a teenage girl swapping messages with who she thinks is a teenage boy, who asks her to meet. In reality he is an older man hiding behind a false profile which he uses to attract youngsters. See the dedicated West Yorkshire Police Who Are Your Really Talking To? webpage at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/who-r-u-talking-2
It is the latest part of the ‘Know The Signs’ campaign which highlights the issues of child sexual exploitation (CSE) and encourages victims to report it. A ‘Who Are You Really Talking To?’ advertising campaign has been running all summer to spread awareness of this form of child sexual exploitation among potential victims and parents.
Messages have been displayed on electronic screens in shopping centres and officers have been speaking to young people in towns and cities. Police and partners, including local authorities, will continue to release web, facebook and twitter posts to promote the issue.
Detective Chief Inspector Sue Jenkinson, of West Yorkshire Police, said the new video was just one part of wide ranging activity to tackle CSE. She said: “This new video really spells out how convincing and manipulative predators can be in luring victims into talking to them online and in concealing their real identities, and I want to thank everyone involved in helping create it.
“People can easily set up fake accounts with fake photos to attract victims and the key message we would encourage young people to remember is never to meet up with someone you’ve only met on line, who pushes for a meeting.
“Just ask yourself; ‘Who am I really talking to?’ and don’t put yourself at risk.”
She added: “We have a number of criminal investigations ongoing into CSE in West Yorkshire as well as dedicated awareness campaigns taking place in schools and in communities. Giving both young people and parents the information about the tactics that predators use and the signs of potential grooming is vital in helping us address and tackle the issue within West Yorkshire.”
Visit http://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/cse.
