NEWS RELEASE
CRIME STOPPERS GUELPH WELLINGTON
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Crime Stoppers Guelph Wellington (CSGW) is helping parents and guardians with the task of talking to their children about Cyber Safety and Human Trafficking thanks to 5 Tips, 5 Ideas and 5 Signs.
The initiative, which launches today, takes three simple themes and breaks it down into five straightforward suggestions on how to protect youth from the dangers of online predators and the connection to Human Trafficking.
5 Tips on How to Talk to Kids about Cyber Safety and Human Trafficking; 5 Ideas on How to Keep your Child Cyber Safe and Human Trafficking Aware and 5 Signs Your Child is Being Groomed offers tangible tools and discussion points. This initiative, developed by CSGW, is funded by 100 Men Who Give a Damn – Guelph for delivery in the City of Guelph, and 100 Women Who Care – Rural Wellington for delivery in the County of Wellington.
The campaign focuses on a virtual/online presentation offered by CSGW and in partnership with Wellington County OPP or Guelph Police Service, depending on the location of the talk. Anyone interested in hosting a presentation is invited to contact CSGW Program Coordinator Sarah BowersPeter via the website www.csgw.tips These free presentations answer any questions parents or guardians may have. Ideal locations are community centres, schools or halls, for in person presentations.
“5 5 5 is a natural extension of our ongoing Human Trafficking awareness, specifically Sex Trafficking, in the community,” said Bowers-Peter. “When we are in schools, kids tell us they are being approached through social media and online gaming DMs (direct messages) by strangers, but when we spoke to parents, they were certain their child wasn’t being solicited. There’s definitely a disconnect.”
With the generational divide around technology and social media, Bowers-Peter said the logical solution was to engage with investigators who work with youth. As a result, CSGW is recommending simple, actionable messaging that parents could add to their toolbelt and update their awareness.
“Raising a child is so much more than feeding, clothing, sheltering and loving,” said Bowers-Peter. “You wouldn’t leave your child unattended in the middle of the street, yet we give them phones that are essentially computers with connection to the entire world, but don’t have a conversation about how to use these devices.”
CSGW partners with DC Hugh Currie of Guelph Police Services’ Internet Child Exploitation Unit and PC Beth Hickey, Wellington County OPP’s Youth Resiliency Officer for the 5 5 5 presentations. BowersPeter also offers insight on what youth are experiencing, and urges anonymous and confidential crime reporting through Crime Stoppers, at 1-800-222-TIPS or www.csgw.tips .
The funds from 100 Men and 100 Women will also go towards radio, print and digital advertisements, as well as a locally produced video which can be found on the CSGW YouTube channel.
“The CSGW Board of Directors is grateful for this support,” said Bowers-Peter. “Fundraising goes to paying Tipster rewards and operating the program, so gifts like those made by 100 Men Who Give a Damn – Guelph and 100 Women Who Care – Rural Wellington, allow us to go above and beyond to help keep our communities safe.”
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