Forgiven

The following script contains details of organisations offering information and support to anyone whose life has been affected by child abuse. At the end of the script you'll find details on the Home Office measures for protection of children in the UK.

NAPAC - The National Association for People Abused in Childhood provides support no matter how long ago the incident took place, pointing people in the right direction to take control of their own recovery. Call the helpline 0800 085 3330 (free & confidential, Mondays - Fridays 10.30am - 3pm & 6 - 8pm). More information and a list of regional support services on www.napac.org.uk.

Stop It Now! advises anyone who has abused, or thought about abusing a child. They also support the family and friends of abusers. They encourage abusers to recognise their behaviour problems and seek help to change. Call helpline 0808 1000 900 (free & confidential on Mondays - Thursdays 9am to 9pm, and Fridays 9am to 7pm). Or check out www.stopitnow.org.uk.

If you're a young person whose been approached or abused ChildLine is free and confidential for anyone up to the age of 18. Call 0800 11 11 (free and open 24 hours a day, every day). If you have difficulty in hearing or in using a regular phone try the textphone service on 0800 400 222. ChildLine phone lines can be very busy but do keep trying and you will get through. More information on the website www.childline.org.uk.

If you're concerned about the safety of a child the NSPCC Child Protection Helpline 0808 800 5000 (free & confidential, open 24 hours a day, every day). A textphone service is in place for people who are hard of hearing on 0800 056 0566 (free). There's also an email helpline, send messages to help@nspcc.org.uk.

Voice UK provides telephone support for adults and children with learning disabilities who have been abused, and for their families and carers. Call 0845 122 8695 (local rate Mondays - Fridays 9am - 5pm). Their website is www.voiceuk.org.uk.

Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre works across the UK and internationally to tackle child sex abuse wherever and whenever it happens. They provide good practical internet safety advice for parents and carers as well as a virtual police station for reporting abuse on the internet at www.ceop.gov.uk.

If you're feeling distressed and need someone to talk to, Samaritans are there for you at any time of day or night on 08457 90 90 90, or text to 07725 90 90 90 or email jo@samaritans.org.

The Home Office have considered all options for a change in the law, including studying methods used in other nations, before recently announcing new measures to protect children from sex offenders. The key points include:

• Piloting a new process allowing parents and guardians to ask for details of possible sex offenders
• Requiring police and probation services to consider in each case whether a child sex offenders' conviction should be disclosed to protect children
• Reviewing the use of satellite tracking to monitor high-risk sex offenders
• Developing the use of drug treatment to reduce sexual drive in offenders
• Piloting compulsory lie detector tests for offenders
• Requiring more information from those on the Sex Offenders' Register, including their email addresses and information about their relationships
• Promoting community awareness campaigns to educate parents about ways to protect their children from sexual predators

For more details and a downloadable information packed leaflet on Keeping Children Safe From Sex Offenders, go to the Home Office website.

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