At a recent meeting with the Acting Chief Constable of Cheshire Police, Janette McCormick, Macclesfield MP, David Rutley, learned more about the Constabulary’s important child protection initiatives.
David was updated on the positive work the Police undertakes to help children and young people stay safe online. He learned more about the Safer Schools and Young People Partnership (SSYPP), through which Police Officers visit schools to teach children and young people about the dangers of sexting and online grooming and exploitation, and the serious impact that these harmful practices can have on their health and wellbeing.
Thanks to the work of Ms McCormick and her Officers, Cheshire Crimebeat, the local charity that helps young people in need play a positive role in their communities, received funding to offer Cheshire schools the chance take part in a project that aimed to teach young people about either: respect in healthy relationships or psychoactive substances. Students in participating schools, including All Hallows and Tytherington secondary schools, and Marlborough and Bosley St Mary’s C of E primary schools, created sixty-second radio adverts explaining how to keep out of harm’s way and what support is available to help young people deal with these significant issues.
At the meeting, David was also impressed to hear about the integrated approach to child protection utilised by Cheshire Constabulary. Front-line officers work closely with Cheshire East Social Work Teams to provide a more thorough and co-ordinated response to child protection issues, helping to ensure that young people facing abuse or neglect get effective help and support more quickly.
Speaking after his meeting, David said, “I am very grateful to Cheshire Police for the vital work they do to help keep our young people safe online. I was impressed to hear about the range of child protection initiatives being taken forward by Cheshire Constabulary, working alongside schools and other key organisations. I will continue to support the Police in these important endeavours, and will stay close to these issues going forward.”