Protection from abuse
What is abuse?
Abuse is something that causes a person harm or distress, either physically or emotionally. It can include
hitting, pushing, bullying, stealing, neglect, financial abuse or sexual activity without consent.
It can happen to men, women and children.
The abuser can be anyone, but it's often someone known and trusted to the person being abused.
Recognise it and report it
Vulnerable people are at particular risk of being abused, and it's everyone's responsibility to help protect them. This might be someone who has a physical or sensory impairment, a drug or alcohol problem, a mental health problem, a learning disability or an elderly person who may be frail or confused.
Don't assume that somebody else will report it.
Where a crime has been committed or if you're worried about someone's immediate safety, contact the Police by dialling 999.
Otherwise you should report your concerns and ring the safeguarding number on 0845 604 2719.
Reporting Child Abuse
Most children enjoy generally safe and happy childhood experiences within their own family but unfortunately for some, this is not the case. During difficult family times everyone has a responsibility to protect children from immediate or future harm; good child care begins even before a child is born.
Everyone has a responsibility to protect children from immediate or future harm.
Abuse and neglect are forms of ill-treatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, by not looking after them properly or by not taking action to protect a child from harm.
Children may be harmed at home, by people living near their home (in their community) or by an adult who is responsible for caring for them in any place away from home (such as school, college, sports and leisure centres, after-school clubs or youth clubs). Sometimes children are abused by a stranger they have met over the internet. This is why it’s really important to work together to help keep children safe.
To report concerns about a child, please contact the First Response Team on 0800 1313 126 or the emergency out of hours number on 0845 6042886. If it's an emergency then ring 999.
Internet Safety
The Internet has become a vital tool for communication, information, entertainment and shopping and is critical to their development.
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