More than 15,000 people have sought information on the signs of a child being sexually exploited in the first weeks of a new Scotland-wide campaign.
Aileen Campbell, minister for children and young people, made the announcement on Friday during a visit in Edinburgh to Barnardo’s Scotland, which is receiving a £300,000 grant in April to expand services for those at risk.
The campaign, the first of its kind in the UK, highlights how to spot the warning signs of young people being manipulated, forced, pressurised or coerced into taking part in a sexual act in exchange for something.
Ms Campbell also announced an updated action plan to tackle child sexual exploitation including extra support for child abuse investigations through Police Scotland’s specialist national unit.
She said: “Child sexual exploitation is a form of child abuse and some young people may not be aware that they are at risk of harm.
“The first step in tackling this abhorrent crime is understanding it can happen to anyone. It can take many forms – online, through social media or on phones, or in person through exploitative and damaging relationships.
“We launched the first TV campaign in the UK to raise awareness of how it can happen, and giving parents and young people access to the information they need to prevent it.
“We have made great progress and will continue to strive to protect our young people and keep them safe from harm.”
Campaign website www.csethesigns.scot has been visited by 15,755 unique users since its launch in January.