A BRAND new initiative that will help the Dorset victims of child sexual exploitation (CSE) has been unveiled to mark a national awareness day.

The Pan Dorset CSE and Missing Children Service aims to identify and protect children deemed at risk of exploitation, as well as supporting those who are already victims.

Detective Inspector Andy Bell of the Dorset Police CSE Investigation Team said: “As well as working together with partners to protect children from CSE and support victims, we are particularly concerned about the links between those children who go missing and their vulnerability to sexual and other types of exploitation.

"It is important that members of the public do not make presumptions as to whether a child may be ‘streetwise’, even if they appear to be so.

"A missing child is vulnerable and should be regarded as an indicator of other issues.

"It is also important to remember that boys can be just as vulnerable to CSE as girls."

The scheme was commissioned by children's charity Barnardo's in partnership with Dorset Police, the county's police and crime commissioner Martyn Underhill, Bournemouth council, Dorset County Council, the Borough of Poole and the Dorset Commissioning Group.

It was officially revealed on Friday, March 18 - national Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Day.

CSE is a form of child abuse that involves the manipulation or coercion of young people to engage in sexual activity in exchange for money, gifts including alcohol, tobacco and drugs, accommodation, affection or status.

DI Bell urged members of the public to look out for signs that a child may be at risk.

Possible signals of abuse include drug or alcohol misuse, sexual health issues and sexualised behaviour, sudden access to money or new things and self-harm.

He said: “I urge anyone who has any suspicions, no matter how small, to report your concerns to the police.

"The information you have could be that one important piece that could prevent a child from being harmed.”

Since the Dorset CSE team was formed in September 2014, 58 people have been arrested on suspicion of committing offences relates to exploitation.

The suspected offences include rape, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, creating indecent images of children and drugs offences.

In addition, members of the team have worked to support 103 children assessed as being at significant risk of CSE.

Currently, 20 children still considered to be at significant risk of harm in Dorset are being supported by the force.

The new Barnardo's service in Dorset will be commissioned to work with young people who are referred by police.

Mr Underhill said: “Dorset may be one of the safest places to live in the country but everywhere is affected by the real and constant threat of child sexual exploitation."