What is online grooming?
Online grooming is where someone makes friends with an individual (of any age) via the internet, for example, through social media, dating sites or gaming platforms and builds up their trust with the intention of exploiting them and causing them harm.
Online grooming techniques can result in harming individuals both on and offline, not just in relation to sexual abuse but also financial abuse or as part of the radicalisation process, among others.
Help, support and reporting
West Midlands Police
Call police non-emergency number 101 - in an emergency call 999
Visit https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/
Accessibility text phone 18001 101 (In an emergency 18001)
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EMERGENCY SMS SERVICE for deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired people
In an emergency you can use your phone to contact the emergency services by texting 999.
You MUST register your mobile phone number before using this service. Just send the word ‘Register’ in a text message to the number 999 and follow the simple instructions you receive back.
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CEOP - Child Exploitation & Online Protection Command
Report online child abuse to https://www.ceop.police.uk
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Report an image or video
If you are under 18 and an explicit or nude image of you has been shared online, this page can confidentially
help you to get it removed. https://contentreporting.childline.org.uk/​
Useful documents & links
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Ann Craft Trust - signs of grooming in adults - what to watch out for
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Educate against hate - keeping your child safe from online extremism
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Get Safe Online Radicalisation - Protecting children from radicalisation
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Internet matters - Hub of expert advice to support parents and carers
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ThinkUKnow - range of information for children and young people and parents
