Sexual abuse. What should I do if.....

This is also known as Cyberflashing.  ‘Cyberflashing’ will become a new criminal offence with perpetrators facing up to two years behind bars when the new Online Safety Bill is introduced by the Government.
The practice typically involves offenders sending an unsolicited sexual image to people via social media or dating apps, but can also be over data sharing services such as Bluetooth and Airdrop. In some instances, a preview of the photo can appear on a person’s device – meaning that even if the transfer is rejected victims are forced into seeing the image.
You are encouraged to keep the messages and report them to South Yorkshire Police.

A person commits an offence of exposure if they intentionally expose their genitals with the intention of someone seeing them and them being alarmed or distressed.

Any person who carries out an act of obscene nature in public can also be charged with ‘outraging public decency’. You can outrage public decency if you behave in a lewd, obscene or disgusting nature.

This is a crime and should be reported to South Yorkshire Police on 999 or 101.
If you don't want to report directly to the Police there is a new initiative called StreetSafe.  StreetSafe is a pilot service for anyone to anonymously tell the Police about public places where you have felt or feel unsafe, because of environmental issues, eg street lighting, abandoned buildings or vandalism and/or because of some behaviours, eg being followed or verbally abused.
StreetSafe | Police.uk (www.police.uk)

Sexual offences, including rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment, can have a devastating impact on the victim.

If it has happened to you, it is important to remember:

• you are not to blame - the person who raped or assaulted you is to blame;
• you do not have to cope on your own;
• there are many support services that can help you. They know how difficult it is for people to come forward and will respect and believe you.

If this has happened to you, try and talk to someone you trust. It doesn't have to be someone in authority; just someone that you feel comfortable with.

Again, there is no pressure but if you do want to report to the Police if possible:

• Don’t wash or brush your teeth
• Don’t eat or drink
• Don’t smoke
• Try not to change your clothes, or keep them to one side safely
• Try not to go to the loo
• Don’t clean up the area where the rape took place.

Don’t worry if you’ve done some of this already. Evidence can still be collected and injuries still noted.

If you want the evidence to be gathered but aren't sure about going to the Police you can go a Sexual Assault Referral Centre.  

Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)

Hackenthorpe Lodge SARC offers a comprehensive service for adults living in South Yorkshire, who have experienced sexual violence or sexual abuse. People that have been sexually assaulted can access Hackenthorpe Lodge via the Police and other professionals, as well as via the self-referral pathway.

At the SARC, individuals will be offered  support and guidance, a medical assessment/treatment, a forensic examination, and the opportunity of aftercare referrals for support services. Clients will be offered these services based on their individual needs, and can choose to use as much or as little of the service as they wish. 

The SARC can offer forensic examinations.  If something has happened to you within the past 7 days, they will give you the option to have an examination, which can help to preserve any evidence. They can offer this even if you don’t want to involve the Police at the moment but feel that you might want to in the future. The examination will be carried out by one of the specially trained nurse examiners, and you will be supported by one of the Support Workers throughout. Each stage will be explained to you beforehand so you are clear about what is involved and why it is required.

Doncaster Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Service (DRASACS)

DRASACS is an independent charity that has been helping victims of sexual violence since 1987. They are not part of the Police, NHS or any other public service.

Their aims are:

• To relieve the distress of people who have suffered from rape or sexual abuse, in particular by providing a counselling and advocacy service
• To relieve the distress of people supporting and/or caring for adults or children who have suffered from sexual violence
• To advance the education of the public and other professionals, by raising awareness of the issue of sexual assault

Tel: 01302 360421.  Visit the DRASACS website: DRASACS

South Yorkshire Police

You can report sexual abuse, assaults and harassment to South Yorkshire Police by calling 999 in an emergency or 101.

Sexual offences - SYP (southyorks.police.uk)

Child sexual abuse

Doncaster Children's Services are always here for our children, young people and families 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. 

If you are worried about a child and wish to speak to a person you can contact us by calling 01302 737777 or in the evening or at weekends call 01302 796000.

Where you believe there is immediate risk of significant harm the police should be contacted on 999.

For urgent safeguarding concerns please call the Duty team, on 01302 737 777.

Child sexual exploitation
Child sexual exploitation (known as CSE for short) is a form of child abuse. It happens when a young person is manipulated or forced, to take part in sexual activity. The abuser works hard to groom the young person - it might seem like a normal friendship or relationship to begin with - gaining their trust and then exploiting that trust for their own gain. It can happen online or offline, and without the young person being aware of it. It may also involve more than one abuser and a number of victims.

If you have any concerns please contact Doncaster Children's Services, child sexual exploitation team by calling 01302 737777

• In an emergency call 999 if a crime is in progress or a life is at risk. For all other incidents please contact South Yorkshire Police on 101.
• Alternatively, you can contact Childline on 0800 11 11 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
• Further information and resources are available on the think you know website.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a procedure where the female genitals are deliberately cut, injured or changed, but there's no medical reason for this to be done.

It's also known as female circumcision or cutting, and by other terms, such as sunna, gudniin, halalays, tahur, megrez and khitan, among others.
It is against the law in the UK.
If you are a child that is worried about having to undergo female genital mutilitation you should call the Police on 999.  You can also contact Doncaster Children's Services emergency duty team on 01302 737777.

The NSPCC have a FGM helpline.  If you are a child or are worried about a child, even if you're unsure, contact the NSPCC FGM helpline to speak to one of their counsellors. Call us on 0808 800 5000, email help@nspcc.org.uk 
Female Genital Mutilation - Prevent & Protect | NSPCC

You can also report to Crimestoppers
Community & family | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org)

There is mandatory reporting of female genital mutilation in the UK.  This involves reporting the abuse to South Yorkshire Police and to Doncaster Children's Services.
More information is available here: http://www.doncaster.gov.uk/services/crime-anti-social-behaviour-nuisance/information-for-professionals-female-genital-mutilation and in the Doncaster Domestic Abuse Protocol and from the National FGM Centre:
National FGM Centre – Developing excellence in response to FGM and other Harmful Practices

If you think you or someone you’re with has been spiked, the best thing to do is tell the people you’re with and seek medical help straight away. Call an ambulance if you are worried about their health or get to the nearest hospital and explain what has happened. The quicker you go to hospital, the more likely it is that the substance will be identified.

If a friend has been spiked, then it’s important to make sure they get home safe. Stay with them so if anything happens or their condition deteriorates you can call for help straight away.

More information about spiking can be found at:
Drink spiking | What to do if you've been spiked | The Mix