Working with Families to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse Alice Newman, Lucy Faithfull Foundation

1. Working with Families to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse Alice Newman, Lucy Faithfull Foundation

2. Working with Families to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse The only UK-wide campaign dedicated solely to preventing child sexual abuse Alice Newman

6. Who are the perpetrators of child sexual abuse? Ref: NSPCC Full-Stop Campaign 2000 75% of Participants said they did not report abuse 27% Others 40% Older brothers or sisters 19% Stepfather 14% Father

7. Who are the Sex Offenders? - Adult Males - 50 % ? - Adult Females - 5-20 % ? - Adolescents and Children - 30 % + “The majority of perpetrators sexually assault children known to them, with about 80 % of offences taking place in the home of either the offender or the victim”. Grubin, 1998.

8. Finkelhor – ‘A clinical application’ Sex with a child Thoughts MOTIVATION Wanting to… INTERNAL INHIBITORS Conscience, Consequences EXTERNAL INHIBITORS Others Create opportunity VICTIM RESISTANCE Gain compliance, Prevent disclosure

10. Stop It Now! Targets: – • Adult abusers and potential abusers: to encourage them to recognise their behaviour as abusive and seek help to change. • Family and friends: to encourage them to recognise the signs of abusive behaviour in those close to them and to seek advice about what action to take. • Parents of young people with sexually worrying behaviour : to encourage them to recognise signs of abusive behaviour in their children and seek advice about what to do.

11. Stop it Now! Aims to: Shift existing beliefs • Sex offenders are monsters • Adults are helpless to do anything • Reliance on children to complain Spread the Message • Abusers are people we know/care about • We are in a unique position to stop them • 30%+ of abusers are children/adolescents • Effective self control is possible via intervention • All adults have a responsibility to work together to stop the sexual abuse of children. Motivate Positive Actions • A Change of attitudes and beliefs is not enough • Adults need skills to set clear sexual boundaries • STOP IT NOW! helpline can be called • Adults / adolescents can seek help and/or self report to the authorities

15. The Stop it Now! National Helpline Freephone: 0808 1000 900 Confidential Two lines 9-9 Mon to Thurs; 9-7 Friday Information, Advice, Support, Face to face meetings possible

16. After ten years’ experience of operating the confidential Helpline we can demonstrate that: • Some people who are sexually abusing children want to stop their abusive behaviour

17. After ten years’ experience of operating the confidential Helpline we can demonstrate that: • Some individuals who have offended in the past want help to prevent repetition of this behaviour

18. After ten years’ experience of operating the confidential Helpline we could demonstrate that: • Some people who are thinking of sexually abusing a child are able to recognise their thoughts and feelings and ask for help before committing an offence

19. After ten years’ experience of operating the confidential Helpline we can demonstrate that: • Some people are troubled by intrusive sexual thoughts involving children and, whilst they do not believe they will act on them, want help to rid themselves of these thoughts

20. After ten years’ experience of operating the confidential Helpline we can demonstrate that: • Adults are able to recognise inappropriate sexual attitudes and behaviours in those close or known to them and can be motivated to seek help in order to protect children

21. After ten years’ experience of operating the confidential Helpline we can demonstrate that: • Protective adults may act as effective agents of control within their family or the wider community

22. After ten years’ experience of operating the confidential Helpline we can demonstrate that: • Some adults are able to recognise sexually inappropriate or harmful behaviour in children and young people

23. In summary, we can demonstrate that: • Many adults are willing and able to discuss, learn and take action to prevent child sexual abuse.

24. Finkelhor – ‘A clinical application’ Sex with a child Thoughts MOTIVATION Wanting to… INTERNAL INHIBITORS Conscience, consequences EXTERNAL INHIBITORS Others Create opportunity VICTIM RESISTANCE Gain compliance, prevent disclosure

25. Thanks for your attention Alice Newman anewman@lucyfaithfull.org.uk

26. Working with Families to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse Alice Newman, Lucy Faithfull Foundation