www.wiltshire.gov.uk
Information for Parents
As a parent, you want what’s best for your children, and certainly you would never want them to be a victim of crime. But finding a balance between giving them the freedom they need and protecting them from crime can be difficult. Different children will need different levels of supervision and protection at different ages – although they might not agree! Negotiating some ground rules with your child is an important process in their gaining independence, and if they have been involved in what those rules are, they should be easier for them to stick too.
At home alone
- There is no age limit for when you can leave your child home alone, but it is an offence if the child is at risk
- Make sure your child can contact you or another trusted adult
- Make sure your child is happy with the arrangement
At home: violence
If you are experiencing domestic violence, your children are also at risk. You can seek help from:
- www.speakoutwiltshire
- National Domestic Violence Helpline
0808 2000 247 - Womens Aid
- Refuge
You and your children are entitled to live without the fear or threat of violence.
On the Internet
Most children now use computers at school, and many will have access to computers at home. To keep your child safe on the internet:
- Make sure the computer is in a family room
- Negotiate ground rules about what sites and chat rooms can be visited
- Make sure they don’t give out personal details
- Talk to your children about what to do if they come across unpleasant websites or if people send them inappropriate emails.
Sexual Abuse
Children are more likely to be abused by some one they know than by strangers. If they are abused by someone they know, they may be confused and not realise that what is happening is abuse.
You can help to keep your child safe by:
- Building a trusting and open relationship with your children
- Making sure they understand about sex
- Making sure they understand about not keeping secrets
- Making sure they know what is appropriate behaviour.
As children grow older and start to develop their own relationships, they are more open to abuse in this way. Encouraging your children to tell you what they are doing and responding to this in a non judgemental way can help.
If your child has been a victim of crime
- In an emergency, call 999
- If you want to call the police and it isn’t an emergency, call 0845 408 7000 (Wiltshire police)
- If you want to report a crime anonymously, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
- Listen to them carefully – it takes a lot of courage to say you have been a victim of crime
- Believe what they say
- Make sure they know they are not to blame
- Ask them what they would like you to do – and do it.
If you have any comments or suggestions about the safer schools pages, please send them to saferschools@wiltshire.gov.uk or fill in and return our feedback form.
