Ending violence against women and girls is a priority of my Police and Crime Plan. While sexual offences are committed against both genders, it is largely a crime impacting women. Police records show that nationally, the victim is female in 86% of sexual offences.

I am determined to do all I can to improve the situation for young people in Dorset, so they grow up with healthy attitudes towards relationships, gender and sex while understanding what constitutes normal behaviour. Society is evolving and the internet has created change, but it is crucial our younger generations do not lose sight of what is acceptable in the real-world.

In recent times, my office has funded the Pineapple Project to deliver workshops to 700 schoolchildren in West Dorset about the risks of sexual exploitation and assault. STARS Dorset received money to put on consent training for 15 to 20 year-olds which focused on having respectful relationships.

Circles South-West were also funded to educate young people and reduce the chances of them engaging in physical or non-physical sexual violence. I will now pass over to Service Manager for Young People & Families at Circles South West, Jackie Citron, who works with young people in Dorset:

In recent years, we have seen more extreme and concerning behaviour being shown by younger children in Dorset. Our organisation hosts Circles of Support and Accountability (Circles) and 1:1 Interventions for young people that engage in harmful sexual behaviour.

Circles are for those that already engaged in harmful behaviour. Volunteers form support groups with a ‘core member’ of the Circle, who meet regularly for one year. For those aged 10 to 20, the focus is on providing a network to reduce isolation, enhance self-esteem, develop independence and social skills.

Interventions aim to stop children on the cusp of engaging in harmful behaviour. They include education on risks of sharing nude photos, inappropriate use of extreme pornography or online harassment. Our ultimate purpose is to prevent future victims by educating young people about the need to respect personal boundaries.

Previously, young people referred to Circles came mainly from backgrounds involving trauma, abuse and neglect but nowadays, many come from ‘happier’ backgrounds. Parents and teachers are struggling to keep up with changes brought about by the internet, which you get a glimpse of in the chaotic school scenes in the Netflix series, Adolescence.

The increasing number of referrals made by primary schools is concerning. While our average age for intervention is 15, we now support children as young as 10. In the past our work was primarily with secondary school aged children, but we are getting an increasing number of enquiries for younger children and that is partly down to the internet.

Sexual activity between family members is often normalised in mainstream pornography and this is likely to be having a negative impact on young people. Despite pornography being an obvious driver of harmful sexual behaviour among young people, social media platforms also contribute to the problem. 

Whether that be influencers who spout misogynistic views that appeal to boys, or girls who are presented with physically idealised female bodies in the media and are led to believe that is what society values.

Parents should start having age-appropriate conversations with their children about relationships and sexuality from a young age, and ideally whilst they are in primary school. It is important to create a safe space in your home where children feel comfortable to openly share details about what is happening in their lives.

Many parents are not prepared to have difficult conversations, or are unaware of the online world their children are growing up in. I also encourage parents to set boundaries regarding internet access and keeping an eye on which apps are used.

Obviously, I would like to see more action from the Government to act against online mega giants who host troublesome content, and ensure legislation changes to better protect young people across the country.

Thanks to Jackie for that insightful article. Accepting that many children are further advanced with technology than adults, it is also parents’ responsibility to keep a close eye on their child’s online activity.

Circles do a fantastic job, and I’ll continue to work with any group wanting to make Dorset a safer place for women and girls, as their safety remains a key priority. It must also be acknowledged that many sexual offences go unreported.

I urge anyone who has been the victim of an offence recently or historically, to come forward, whenever you are ready, and speak to Dorset Police  or other relevant agencies, so you can start to get the help and support you need.

If you would like to learn more about Circles South West please visit here.