Shetland Rape Crisis is preparing for a big change during its annual 16 Days of Activism Campaign, beginning on Thursday 25 November and running up until Tuesday 10 December.

The Shetland Public Protection Committee along with Orkney Public Protection and Western Isles Public Protection Committees have launched the Inter-Island PANTS Campaign aimed at children aged 3-8.  This campaign aims to protect children from sexual abuse by encouraging parents, care givers and professionals to have conversations with children in an age-appropriate way about how to stay safe.  The campaign will run into early 2022 so keep a look out for more information.

A new ‘how to’ guide created for parents and carers to keep children safe online during the upcoming summer holidays has been launched by the CyberScotland Partnership today. ‘Staying Safe Online’ has been designed to provide those with caring responsibilities with credible and up-to-date information on ways to keep children protected from online harms.

A new school holiday campaign is being launched this week urging everyone in Shetland to enjoy plenty of summertime fun time after months of pandemic restrictions, but to be alert for signs that the lockdown experience was anything but fun for some children. As Shetland schools prepare to ring the end of term bell later this week, the “For Kids’ Sake…” campaign encourages everyone to look out for clues that a child may have experienced harm, neglect or abuse during the pandemic. Tam Baillie, Chair of Shetland Public Protection Committee, says that while everyone is excited about having holiday fun over the summer holidays, some children will have had a very difficult time in recent months. “Most children and young people in Shetland are really looking forward to days out and time with family and friends in the school break. Sadly, some of those children will have been through a rough time during the pandemic. It’s only now that we are beginning to spend significant time with children we’ve seen very little of during lockdown months, and it’s only now that we might notice or sense that something is wrong.”

The safety of Shetland’s children and young people is the top priority of the Shetland Public Protection Committee, which works to promote their safety and wellbeing with all relevant agencies. Children and young people have the right to be kept safe from abuse and neglect. It is everyone’s job to make sure that children get help when they need it. If anyone has a concern, it is important that they share it with someone who can help. You may have a vital bit of information which helps to form a picture of what is needed for a child. Children, families and young people are entitled to have their privacy respected – so please share information with a professional who can help. Child Protection professionals will deal with your information and share it further only within the bounds of appropriate confidentiality. Duty Social Work can be contacted on 01595 744420 or, out of hours, on 01595 695611. Tam Baillie is Chair of Shetland Public Protection Committee: “Our most important role is to protect children and young people and challenge those who would harm them. I want everyone in Shetland to be able to recognise when a child is at risk, and report those concerns to social work services or, in urgent situations, to the police as soon as possible. “General discussion in the community, or sharing on social media, does not help to protect children and young people who have been or who may be at risk. If you do have any information regarding a child or young person’s safety, it is always better to say something than do nothing.”

• encourage your children to be careful about sharing too much information with someone they’ve never met

• it’s okay to ask about what your kids are doing online and who they are talking too

• it’s okay to ask about what your kids are doing online and who they are talking too • don’t ask just once, keep being interested and curious, keep asking questions • learn more about your kids’ online lives, ask them to show you how sites, apps and platforms work

The campaign aims to encourage parents and carers to be curious and actively interested in what their children are doing online, and to learn how to help keep them safe from the dangers of online abuse or exploitation.

The Scottish Government is running a campaign until 24 March 2021 to raise awareness of what child sexual exploitation (CSE) is, improve public understanding and empower those with concerns to act upon them.

Shetland Public Protection Committee (SPPC) is asking the community to look out for vulnerable adults ahead of Adult Support and Protection Day on Saturday 20 February 2021.

With our children using the internet more at the moment to access their home learning, it is essential that we teach them to be SMART. Don't believe everything you see and read on the internet. Always check your sources. The Library offers a wide range of reliable online reference sites to help with homework. https://www.shetland.gov.uk/libraries/online-study-resources Be smart. Stay safe.

Shetland shines a light with its Care Experienced residents next week as the community hosts its second annual Festival of Care on 19-23 February. Who Cares? Scotland and Shetland Islands Council have organised the event in collaboration with Care Experienced young people (The #ShetlandCrew). The aim is to challenge myths, stereotypes and popular understandings of care, and celebrate the unique achievements of the isles’ Care Experienced young people. The powerful theme for the Festival is ‘Being the Light’ - how do our young people bring light into all our lives? How can we be lights and beacons for them? How do we find ways of kindling light even in the toughest of times? The Festival will include a series of exciting online opportunities for young people, carers, professionals and the wider community. Launching on National Care Day (19th February), it will explore, engage and connect with Care Experience from a young person’s perspective through, art, culture and interactive online workshop experiences.

This Safer Internet Day is bigger than ever! More than 1,700 organisations and schools across the UK are getting involved to help inspire a national conversation about using technology responsibly, respectfully, critically and creatively.

For Safer Internet Day Britannica have shared their Guide to Keeping Safe Online. Click the link below to find more information https:

Follow Shetland Library and OPEN Peer Educators on facebook and twitter for Safer Internet Day safety messages.

Tuesday 9 February 2021 is Safer Internet Day with the theme of An Internet We Trust. Look out for our safety messages each day this week.

Hourglass Scotland is the only charity in Scotland dedicated to calling time on the harm, abuse and exploitation of older people. We support older people experiencing (or at risk of) harm, abuse or exploitation, and work towards safer ageing and a fairer society for all older people.

This Safer Internet Day we have a host of events happening throughout the UK, all of them talking about the theme of reliability online and online safety.

As most of Scotland re-enters lockdown, and the re-opening of schools and nurseries is delayed, families across the country face new challenges and stresses, and some children may experience abuse or neglect. CPCScotland is keen to maintain its messaging that it’s vital for everyone to be alert to signs that all is not well for a child or young person and to take action if they’re worried about a child’s wellbeing during this phase of the pandemic. The role of the community to use their ears and eyes to help keep children safe from harm is particularly important when most children are not in the usual routine of school or nursery. As such, CPC Scotland is continuing to repeat our core message that it’s always better to say something than do nothing. It’s everyone’s responsibility to keep children safe from harm.

The Children’s Society have published a guide to the dark web describing what it is, how young people might use it and what to do if you have safety concerns. https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/information/professionals/resources/what-is-the-dark-web

Who Cares? Scotland Helpline is open to all Care Experienced people across Scotland, of any age – whether currently in care or having left care. The helpline (0330 107 7540) is open Monday to Friday from 12-4pm, and people can also email Who Care Scotland? on help@whocaresscotland.org. We are led by the needs of our callers and can provide the following: • Connection with Who Cares? Scotland • Support and signposting around finances, benefits, housing, health, employment, education, and rights • Lifelong advocacy • A listening ear • Referral route into local advocacy if the caller is a young person. Sian Wild is the local advocacy and participation worker for Who Cares? Scotland a national organisation which provides advocacy and participation activities to looked after children and care experienced young people.

This year, many of us will be relying on tech over the festive period for entertainment and, most importantly, to keep in touch with friends and family. Here are a few resources that you can share with parents, carers and children and young people to help them have a safer online experience over the winter break.

The BBC reports that TikTok is expanding its parental control feature Family Pairing making it easier for parents to safeguard their children on its video-sharing platform. New features include the ability to change the youngster's settings remotely to block them from carrying out searches, and to prevent strangers from seeing their posts. Children can still override these limitations but not without their parents being told. Read the news story: TikTok adds tougher parental controls

Volunteers with BEE (Bold, Equal & Empowered), Shetland Rape Crisis’ young activists’ group, are inviting folk to join them in a socially-distanced walk and social media takeover under the hashtag #WisToo on Saturday 5th December at Clickimin Loch between 10am-1pm, as part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The 16 Days are an international campaign that runs from 25 Nov, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 Dec, Human Rights Day. It also includes International Men’s Day (19 Nov), Trans Day of Remembrance, and World Children’s Day (both 20 Nov). The group, supported by Shetland Rape Crisis, has organised an outdoor exhibition highlighting facts relating to the 16 days and gender-based violence, and this exhibition will be on display at the walk route from this week until 10th December. The exhibition boards were designed and printed by sponsors Lou Jackson Design and Artmachine.

Net Aware, produced by the NSPCC and O2, has released content to help parents and carers who may be worried about their child sharing videos and images online.

Childline has published a webpage with information for children and young people about child trafficking and exploitation. The page discusses what child trafficking and exploitation is, where children and young people can get support and what to do if they are worried about someone else.

From next week, all forms of physical punishment of children will be against the law in Scotland, including hitting, smacking, spanking and slapping. Under current laws, parents may be prosecuted with assault if they physically punish or discipline their child, but may be able to use the defence of ‘reasonable chastisement’, depending on the circumstances.

Police Scotland is committed to keeping people safe and protecting all our communities. We understand that daily life adhering to coronavirus (COVID-19 guidelines continues to be challenging for everyone. Although Scottish Government guidance has provided flexibility for the individual needs of disabled people, we recognise this has not prevented some people becoming fearful of going out into their communities. We are aware some disabled people have reported being unfairly challenged and, on occasion, abused about issues linked to social distancing and face coverings. Our partners have shared concerns that some disabled people can find physical distancing difficult - this could be linked to sight loss, autism, a physical disability or other issues. People have reported being shouted at, made to feel uncomfortable or fearful. We have also received reports of people who are exempt from wearing face coverings being inappropriately challenged in shops or on public transport. This includes people who have invisible or hidden disabilities, like asthma or autism.

New resource for young people with information and support about different forms of gender-based violence, healthy relationships and consent.

As pandemic restrictions continue to affect all children and families across the country, a new Scotland-wide multi-agency digital child protection campaign launches on Thursday 17 September at 1000. This digital campaign has been developed by Child Protection Committees Scotland in conjunction with Barnardo’s Scotland, NSPPC Scotland and Police Scotland. As Scotland’s children settle back into the school routine and slowly begin to return to clubs and out-of-school activities, the month-long campaign aims to raise awareness that while lockdown and the pandemic has been hard going for many families and children, it’s been a lot more challenging for some families than others. Families who were struggling to cope before the pandemic may have been pushed to crisis point during lockdown, and even the most settled families will have faced new challenges during this time.

Shetland Youth & Employability Services have alerted the Shetland Public Protection Committee to distressing images of suicide shared through TIKTOK. Please alert colleagues and please be aware that people may be very distressed by this. Users report that the distressing footage is being placed inside of other, seemingly unrelated videos, so that it may appear without warning in users’ feeds. This may particularly impact on young people and parents may want to support their children to suspend their use of TIKTOK over the coming days.

Police Scotland and partners are calling on local communities to come together and help put an end to gender-based violence in Shetland. Shetland Rape Crisis’ Facebook page recently featured a post from Rhea, detailing accounts of sexual assaults and abuse reported to her via anonymous app by other young people in Shetland. The stories came from young people of all genders across the Isles, but the vast majority of stories received detailed incidents against young women and girls. Now Police Scotland, working with its partners Shetland Rape Crisis and Shetland Women’s Aid, is asking people to be vigilant, to report offenders and to help prevent gender-based violence.

Police Scotland is committed to keeping people safe and protecting all our communities. We understand that daily life adhering to coronavirus (COVID-19) guidelines continues to be challenging for everyone. Although Scottish Government guidance has provided flexibility for the individual needs of disabled people, we recognise this has not prevented some people becoming fearful of going out into their communities. We are aware some disabled people have reported being unfairly challenged and, on occasion, abused about issues linked to social distancing and face coverings.

Reports of online scares or challenges encouraging harmful or suicidal behaviours can be alarming and confusing. Follow the link to find out how you can speak to your child about scares and challenges, and how to respond if they have seen one.

Scams centred on exploiting coronavirus have become prevalent in recent months. Everything from Government grants, furlough payments, requests for refund of overpayments to mortgage holidays are being targeted by scammers utilising more sophisticated methods.

Sharing, or threatening to share, intimate images without consent is a crime that can come with a five year prison sentence.

Please find below the latest scam bulletin. Click to read on.

New website launched

For up to date information on scams visit SIC Trading Standards facebook page.

Issued from Police Scotland - The ability to detect a fictitious company and business transaction in a period of high demand becomes more challenging, particularly where businesses are operating with a skeleton or remote workforce. Many businesses are establishing new supply chains for products, particularly personal protective equipment (PPE) and buying from companies they have not dealt with before. This provides fraudsters an opportunity to exploit the situation: high demand for and the urgency with which companies want to procure goods. Those conducting this type of fraud will often target individuals/companies, knowing that they are facing these challenges.

Please read on to see some of the latest scams.

Two new Parent Info articles explore how parents and carers can support their child's mental health, and highlight things they can do to manage the wellbeing challenges of family life under lockdown.

Read on for the latest scams

Its Everyone’s job to keep children , young people and adults safe from harm and abuse. Here is a  link to a basic protection training  course that is recommended for everyone, but especially for colleagues working in the voluntary sector or with sports and activity groups. The course  will help you to recognise abuse, know what to do and where to get help and advice if you need it. You can print out a certificate for doing the course.

Which? is launching a free scam alert service to warn consumers about the latest fraud attempts and give advice about how they can protect themselves, as criminals exploit the coronavirus outbreak to unleash a new range of scams. With more than £1.2 billion lost to scammers in 2019, fraud has become one of the most prevalent crimes in the UK, which often results in devastating consequences for victims. In recent weeks, scammers have rushed to exploit the widespread fear and confusion caused by the pandemic.

Launched today is a new resource for Health & Social Care staff to support women at risk of gender based violence. The stay at home messaging which is a large part of our fight against COVID 19 will pose a challenge in particular for women at risk of gender based violence (GBV) including domestic abuse. 1 in 4 women may experience domestic abuse & this may increase during COVID pandemic.

The Internet Watch Foundation warns that, with schools being forced to shut, there is an increased risk of children being groomed and coerced online.

Over the coming weeks, children will be spending more time online to play, create, learn and connect. So it’s important to know how to keep them safe. That’s why Net Aware is here, to provide you with simple, practical advice.

Shetland Domestic Abuse Partnership, Shetland Rape Crisis and Shetland Women’s Aid would like to alert members of the community to the increased risk of domestic abuse and sexual violence during the current coronavirus pandemic.

Trading Standards are aware of a variety of scams associated with the coronavirus pandemic – it is important that everyone continues to remain vigilant and alert for any and all attempts by criminals to use the current circumstances as an opportunity to make money out of people’s difficulties and concerns. Locally, they are aware of an ongoing scam within Shetland which includes the promotion of ‘medical machines’ with claims that these can detect and/or cure various illnesses including coronavirus. “We are working on this in conjunction with other enforcement partners,” says David Marsh, Shetland Islands Council’s Trading Standards Team Leader, “and have received valuable assistance from people across the wider Shetland community.”

Our office is closed due to COVID-19 but can still be contacted and staff are continuing to provide support and advice:-

Please feel free to download these posters and circulate.

With the closure of schools, nurseries and other services during the current coronavirus pandemic, Child Protection Committees Scotland is urging everyone to keep their eyes and ears open for children and vulnerable adults who may be at risk during this time.

As more businesses encourage their staff to start working from home the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has launched new guidance to help prepare your workforce. Home working brings its own cybersecurity challenges that organisations must manage including possibly setting up new accounts, using new video teleconferencing facilities and document sharing.

A new Disability Hate Crime campaign has been launched this week to encourage both victims and bystanders to report hate crime to the police. One in five people in Scotland are registered as having a disability, yet this category of hate crime accounts for only four per cent of reports to Police Scotland, and there is strong evidence to suggest this type of offence is significantly under reported. This campaign has been designed to encourage people to come forward, to speak up and refuse to tolerate this kind of behaviour.

The Upstream Project was set up to enable adults and communities in Scotland prevent child sexual abuse. We believe that preventing child sexual abuse is all our responsibility and this depends on changing the thinking and behaviour of adults. It aims to be the "one stop" resource for anyone who wants to know more about the prevention of child sexual abuse and how they can contribute and help. The Upstream web resource was launched the 4th December 2019 at Norton Park Conference Centre in Edinburgh and was launched by Maree Todd, MSP, Minister for Children & Young People. For contact details and site read on.