Should I report my concerns?

Trust your gut feel.

We know that this is not an easy step to make, especially if the parties involved are close family members or friends. But you are not alone in the situation support is available.

Please don't put your relationship with an adult over the protection of a child

Have a look at: Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse in Scotland

Someone I know has been arrested for sexual crimes with children

If someone is arrest for sexual crimes against children (whether on-line or not), the end result could be that they are placed on the Sex Offender Register.

Advice available in the following pages :

• Someone has been arrested for accessing Child Sexual Abuse images online
• Can I find out if somebody is a sex offender?
• What if a Sex Offender moves into my area?
• Managing sex offenders in Scotland
• Talking to your teenager (12+)
• Talking to your child 12 or under

I am worried about myself around children

If you are worried about your own thoughts or behaviour towards children and young people, then it is important you seek support and information to help you manage these.

View Concerned about your own thoughts or behaviour?

I am a child or young person and I think I am being exploited and abused

There is no need to suffer the child sexual abuse in silence and never tell anyone about it. Many keep their abuse secret forever. Sadly, the impact of abuse may strike at any time and it is important that help is available when you need it.

If you suffered abuse as a child or you are a young person currently suffering abuse, help is available

Advice available in the following pages:

• Survivors of child sexual abuse
• Learn about Child Sexual Abuse prevention
• Children and young people in the online world
• What if a child tells me they have been/are being abused?
• Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse in Scotland
• Protection of LGBTQ children and Young people

I am uneasy about how an adult is around a child or young person

Someone you know may be acting in ways that worry or confuse you. Trust Your Instinct!

Have a look at:

• Warning signs that an adult might be a risk to a child or a young person
• Worried about someone who works with children?
• Leaving my child with others
• Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse in different settings

My child/young person has got into trouble online.
A young person or child you know may be in trouble online. They may have sent or shared naked images, or accessed chat-room or engaged in sexualised conversations or access illegal and inappropriate conversations.

They may have fallen victim to harm and abuse online

Advice available in the following pages :

• Children and young people in the online world
• SMART rules for adults to share with children
• Talking to your child 12 or under
• Talking to your teenager (12+)
• Preventing Harmful Sexual Behaviour in childhood and adolescence

I think that a child or young person may be being abused 

Do you think that a young person or child is being abused? The abuse could be by an adult or another child.

Even if it is just a gut feel - don't be a bystander.

Amongst other pages - Have a look at :

• Warning signs that a child is being sexually abused or exploited
• Warning signs that a child may be risk to another child
• Children and young people in the online world
• Preventing Harmful Sexual Behaviour in childhood and adolescence
• What if a child tells me they have been/are being abused?