Child Abuse

Stop It Now! UK and Ireland is a child sexual abuse prevention campaign and helpline run by The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a UK-wide child protection charity dedicated solely to reducing the risk of children being sexually abused.

The charity supports adults to play their part in prevention through providing help and support, educating members of the public, training those who work with children and families, and running the confidential and anonymous helpline - 0808 1000 900. The helpline is available to:

• adults worried about the sexual behaviour of other adults or children and young people
• people worried about their own sexual thoughts or behaviour towards children, including those with concerns about their online behaviour
• friends and relatives of people arrested for sexual offending, including Internet offending
• any other adult with a concern about child sexual abuse - including survivors and professionals

The Stop It Now! helpline is available from 9am - 9pm Mondays to Thursdays and 9am - 5pm Fridays.

The helpline is confidential and you don't have to give the charity your full name or any other details that will identify you. But if you do, and then give them information that identifies a child who has been - or is at risk of being - abused, or any information which may suggest that any other person is at risk of harm, then the charity will pass that information on to the appropriate agencies. They will also pass on details of any criminal offence committed.

• Norfolk Children’s Services  -  0344 800 8020
• Norfolk Safeguarding Children Board
• NSPCC – 0808 800 5000
• ChildLine – 0800 11 11
• The Lucy Faithfull Foundation - 0808 1000 900

If you or a friend is at risk of harm, or you are suffering any form of abuse, then it’s important you know that help is available. It can be a very difficult decision to tell someone so it’s important you get the right advice when you do. 

• Always dial 999 in an emergency or call our non-emergency number 101.
• Go to your local police station and tell someone what has happened. They will take an initial report and forward this on to one of our specially trained officers.
• Talk to someone you trust. This might be a friend, a teacher or another adult.
• Contact ChildLine for free. You can talk about any problem and there will always be someone there to help you sort it out. You can speak to them on 0800 1111 or at www.childline.org.uk

As a professional if you have any concerns for the safety and welfare of a child, it’s important you understand what your responsibilities are.
You should consider the following:

• Seek advice from your safeguarding lead.
• In an emergency dial 999, otherwise call our non-emergency number 101.
• Contact Police and/or Children’s Services through the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH). You can contact them on 0344 800 8020 or by emailing [email protected]

If a child tells you something, you should:

• Listen and not interrupt.
• Try not to appear shocked or surprised by what they say – they might think you can’t handle what they have to say and stop, or that what they are telling you is ‘naughty.’
• Make a written note of what they said as accurately and as soon as possible.
• Maintain confidentiality but don’t promise you won’t tell anyone, as you may need to tell someone in order to protect them.
• If you are unsure what to do contact the MASH for advice. Do not contact the person suspected of causing harm to the child until you have been advised if this is suitable or not.

• Dial 999 in an emergency.
• If the matter is not an emergency, call 101 or visit your local police station to tell someone what has happened. They will take an initial report and forward this onto our Child Abuse Investigation Team.
• If you’re a child, talk to someone you trust. This might be a friend, a teacher or another adult. For more information read our guidance for children below.
• Contact your local Children’s Services team and ask to speak with the duty Social Worker Telephone 0344 800 8020.
• If you are a professional, it’s important you know your responsibility to refer your concerns to the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH). They are likely to ask you to send a referral form after which they can discuss with you the best way forward. For more information read our guidance for professionals below or visit Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)

Neglect is when a child or young person is not being properly looked after. This could damage their health or wellbeing. These very basic needs include:

• safety at home (including not being left at home alone)
• proper shelter / clothing / cleanliness
• any necessary medical treatment including dental care
• protection from physical and emotional harm or danger - this includes protecting them from someone else who may be abusing them.

Signs and symptoms of neglect might be:

• constant hunger or tiredness
• poor personal hygiene
• poor state of clothing
• untreated medical problems
• no social relationships

These are only a few signs and symptoms for abuse. Some, all, or none of these may be apparent. If you are concerned that you or someone you know may be being abused please tell someone.

Emotional abuse happens in many different ways. It can affect how a young person or child feels about themselves, how they feel they fit in, with friends, at school, or where they live. Examples can be:

• being made to feel inadequate, wrong or unhappy
• being unfairly blamed
• being bullied
• being made to feel frightened or in danger
• seeing or hearing someone from home being hurt by another member of the family (domestic violence).

Signs and symptoms of emotional abuse might be:

• physical, mental and emotional development lags
• continual lack of self-worth ('I'm stupid, ugly, worthless, etc')
• inappropriate response to pain ('I deserve this')
• neurotic behaviour (rocking, hair twisting, self-mutilation).

These are only a few signs and symptoms for abuse. Some, all, or none of these may be apparent. If you are concerned that you or someone you know may be being abused please tell someone.

Sexual Abuse is when someone is told, asked or forced to take part in sexual activities.

 There are many different ways in which a young person can be sexually abused, including:

• Making them do sexual things either to themselves or with other people.
• Involving them in the making of films, videos or DVDs or taking photos and videos on mobile phones that involve sexual activity.
• Making them watch sexual behaviour.

Signs and symptoms of sexual abuse might be:

• Extreme reactions such as depression, self-mutilation, suicide attempts, running away, overdoses, anorexia.
• Personality changes such as becoming insecure or clingy.
• Being isolated or withdrawn.
• Medical problems such as chronic itching, pain in the genitals, venereal diseases.
• Sexualised behaviour.

These are only a few signs and symptoms for abuse. Some, all, or none of these may be apparent. If you are concerned that you or someone you know may be being abused please tell someone.

Physical abuse is when someone hurts a child or young person on purpose. This can include:

• hitting
• shaking
• making a child ill
• using an implement such as a belt, stick, wire etc to discipline.

Please tell someone if you have any concerns. Signs and symptoms of physical abuse might be:

• unexplained recurrent injuries / marks / burns
• wearing clothes to cover injuries, even in hot weather
• fear of physical contact - shrinking back if touched.

These are only a few signs and symptoms for abuse. Some, all, or none of these may be apparent. If you are concerned that you or someone you know may be being abused please tell someone.