CUMBRIA Police Commissioner has hailed a new campaign that aims to spread awareness for the signs for potential child grooming and exploitation.

The national Look Closer Awareness Week begins from February 8 and is focused on teaching members of the public how to identify at risk children.

Organised by The Children Society, awareness week urges the public and people still going out work to keep a particular eye out for children who may be at risk in public spaces which continue to be in use during lockdown.

PROTECT: The Children Society pushes new awareness week campaigne to spread knowledge on how to identify signs of abuse

These include parks, supermarkets, takeaways, and banks, as well as in taxis and on trains - all places where it may be easier for criminals to groom and transport children and exploit them into illegal activity in plain sight.

Police Commissioner Peter McCall has welcomed the scheme as an expansion of ‘child centred’ focus Cumbria Constabulary are taking.

Peter said: “We really support any and all schemes aimed at the protection of our kids.

“We know grooming goes go on all the time, sadly even in Cumbria, especially with the expansion of the internet during lockdown.

“It is so important, and we all need to get behind it.

BE AWARE: Cumbria Police Commissioner Peter McCall welcomes new awareness scheme

BE AWARE: Cumbria Police Commissioner Peter McCall welcomes new awareness scheme.

“We need to be aware of what our kids are doing when we are not around, what they are looking at on the internet and who they are interacting with.

“This scheme goes alongside the approach we have been taking since summer, and it fits with our child centred focus’ approach to policing.

“I encourage everyone to get involved in this campaign and see what it’s all about.

“We all have a moral obligation to watch out for our kids and make sure we are doing everything possible to keep them safe.”