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This month’s guest blog is by the PCC for Dorset about how his Office is supporting young people in Dorset to grow up with healthy attitudes towards sex and understanding what constitutes normal behaviour

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 and girls. Police records show that nationally, the victim is female in 86% of sexual offences.

My Office is determined to improve the situation for young people in Dorset, so they grow up with healthy attitudes towards 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, OPCC 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 online 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:

Adolescence is the right time for children to start exploring their sexuality and healthy, intimate relationships. But in recent years, we are seeing an increase in concerning sexual behaviours being shown by younger children across the South West.

Our organisation provides Circles of Support & Accountability (‘Circles’) and 1:1 interventions for young people that engage in problematic and harmful sexual behaviour. Circles are for those that have already engaged in harmful sexual 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 social network to reduce social isolation, enhance self-esteem and develop independence and social skills. Evidence shows these are the best ways to reduce the risk of further sexual harm.

Interventions aim to stop children on the cusp of engaging in harmful sexual behaviour. They include education on risks of sharing nude photos, inappropriate use of pornography or online harassment. The sessions can address physical forms of sexual abuse too, such as touching someone without consent. Our ultimate purpose is to prevent future victims by educating young people about the need to respect personal boundaries. The programmes are designed to educate children and young people to behave in ways that are socially acceptable and non-harmful.

Previously, young people referred to Circles came mainly from backgrounds involving trauma, abuse and neglect but nowadays, many come from happier backgrounds. Parents, Carers 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 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.

 It means that many children now view pornography before they even start sex education lessons. Sexual activity between family members is often normalised in mainstream pornography and this is also likely to be having a negative impact on young people.

We work with many young people who have unrestricted internet access at home. They view violent and misogynistic pornography and for children, this can be extremely confusing as it can provoke conflicting feelings of sexual arousal, disgust, shame and guilt. Circles also support several young people who make sexualised comments and noises towards peers that they have seen online and do not fully understand.

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.

Girls tend to be categorised as victims and boys as perpetrators, but often their routes to that behaviour are similar. We support some girls whose behaviour is highly sexualised towards their peers. Children of all genders who have been sexually groomed online by adults, may have learned that sexualised behaviour is one way to gain attention and self-esteem.

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 encourage parents to set boundaries regarding internet access and keep an eye on which apps are used. Government must also act against online media giants which host illegal sexual content. Legislation must change 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 their parents, it is also parents’ responsibility to keep a close eye on their child’s online activity.

Circles South West 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. We also acknowledge 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 so you can start to get the help and support you need.

To learn more about Circles South West or become a volunteer in a Circle of Support & Accountability please visit here.