Force launches focus on intra-familial abuse

As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the protection of children across Staffordshire, we have today (Monday 12 May) launched our Break the Silence campaign. The campaign focuses on the most common form of child sexual abuse; intra-familial abuse, and aims to help people to recognise the signs and support victims to come forward.

Intra-familial abuse is child sexual abuse that takes place within the family environment. Abusers may be relatives, guardians, carers or people that victims feel are part of their family network.

Such abuse often occurs in combination with other forms of emotional, physical and psychological neglect including domestic abuse and has a devastating impact on victims and their lives.

In Staffordshire, the most commonly reported familial relationship between the victim and perpetrator is that of a sibling, with 58 percent of all suspects reported as a brother.

Nationally, figures show victims are most likely to be female, however, males are also victims of this type of abuse.

Some of the signs of intrafamilial abuse can include children:

• Changing elements of their behaviour or personality
• Demonstrating regressive behaviours such as bed-wetting
• Having recurring trouble sleeping or nightmares
• Enacting sexual behaviours with toys
• Becoming withdrawn, depressed, anxious or overly clingy and affectionate
• Becoming secretive, fearful or unaccountably angry
• Changing their eating habits – excessive under or over-eating
• Changing their personal hygiene habits including excessive bathing or not bathing at all
• Using new or different words for body parts
• Demonstrating a sexual awareness inappropriate to their age.

 Other physical signs of abuse can include children having:

• Unexplained signs of trauma such as bruising, bleeding, swelling or sores on a child’s body, face and private parts
• Unexplained bodily itching or other recurring physical aliments
• Difficulty standing, sitting or walking
• Pregnancy or sexually-transmitted infections

The behaviour of an adult in a child’s familial network may be a concern and require reporting if:

• They are overly interested in a child’s physical development
• They insist on physical play with a child
• They shower the child with excessive gifts
• They make sexual comments, innuendoes or have inappropriate conversations around children
• They seek-out alone time with a child and single them out for attention in a room or enclosed space such as a car
• They refuse to give a child privacy or make their own decisions relating to their wellbeing
• They display child-like or child-orientated behaviours to seek out attention from children.

 As part of the campaign, we are running an online chat to give members of the public the opportunity to ask questions regarding child sexual abuse and how to protect children.

Officers from the child protection team will be available from 6pm-8pm on Monday 19 May to provide help and advice. Questions can be submitted in advance and they will be answered on the day by our panel. The online chat can be accessed here: https://app.sli.do/event/2ZxUcV4kgXdySAqpkkjTV3

Anyone concerned about the behaviour of a child or adult they know has a number of options to access support.

If you are concerned about a child at immediate risk of harm, call 999 as an emergency. To make a report to us that is not an emergency, call 101.

If you’re worried about the behaviour of an adult towards a child, as part of Sarah’s Law, you can access the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme (CSODS) online to ask us if someone has a record for child sexual offences. A link to this scheme in Staffordshire is Sarah's Law (Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme) | Staffordshire Police.

Since the start of 2021, we have received 395 requests for information from the service and would encourage anyone with concerns to get in touch.

You can also report suspected abuse via the charity the NSPCC and the Lucy Faithful Foundation.

Superintendent Beverley Matthews, of our public protection unit, said: “All adults have a responsibility to protect children and raise any concerns with the appropriate agency, including the police.

“As a force, we are determined to make the county a hostile environment for people that sexually abuse children and are committed to safeguarding all children from harm.

“Anyone who is worried about a child acting differently or showing possible signs of abuse should contact us as soon as possible to raise their concerns.

“Your report will be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.

“Don’t ignore your instincts if something doesn’t feel right, speak up as soon as possible to protect children.”

For more information, visit: What is child abuse? | Staffordshire Police.