We are excited to launch an awareness campaign in Teesside and Hartlepool this summer, in partnership with Matt Storey, Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner.
Beyond the Behaviour will feature a series of stories about young people who have been exploited. Each story highlights how each young person was coerced into behaviour which could have been dismissed as nuisance or problematic behaviour such as congregating in public spaces, underage drinking and shoplifting.
We hope that by raising awareness about how children are being groomed, and training members of the public about child exploitation through our Community Guardian programme about, we can make public spaces safer for children and young people.
Listen to Lindsay Dalton, CEO talking about the campaign on BBC Radio Teeside:
Watch coverage on BBC Look North, where members of staff were talking to the public about the campaign in shopping centres around the region.
Find out about Beyond the Behaviour campaign.