Operation Artemis Targets Child Exploitation

Teams of officers from Cleveland Police were out across the force area yesterday, carrying out action to tackle child exploitation across Teesside as part of Operation Artemis.

The action marked Child Exploitation Day and kicked off a multi-agency week of action led by Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees Safeguarding Children Partnership (HSSCP) and the South Tees Safeguarding Children Partnership (STSCP) to highlight the issue of child exploitation, whether this is being harmed online, experiencing sexual violence or using children to deal drugs.

Throughout the week there will be training for professionals, schools and parents across Teesside, hearing the perspectives of adult survivors of exploitation who will share how to spot the signs of exploitation early and keep children and young people safe. Helpful information will be provided to the community across many social media platforms in order to raise awareness and signpost where to go for help.

On Monday morning teams executed warrants at two addresses on Teesside.  Suspected class A drugs and other drugs paraphernalia was recovered from an address in Angle Street in Middlesbrough, whilst a 28-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman were arrested at a property on Bishopton Road in Stockton on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A and B drugs and possession of criminal property.

Child Exploitation Chief Inspector Steve Chatterton said: “The Complex Exploitation Team yesterday carried out action to tackle child exploitation as part of Operation Artemis.  The day of action coincided with Child Exploitation Day, an annual event to raise awareness of child exploitation for parents, carers, professionals or anyone who has regular contact with children, helping them to spot the signs that a child may be being exploited and who to report that information to. 

"We executed warrants in the morning, linked to identified organised crime groups suspected of exploiting children criminally, by trafficking drugs. Two people were arrested, and drugs and weapons were recovered. We also saw arrest attempts conducted for people wanted for child exploitation offences and safeguarding visits for children who have been identified as high risk.  This is just snapshot of the work we carry out every day in Teesside to keep children safe from exploitation.”

Lauren Harrington and Gary Watson on behalf of Hartlepool and Stockton Safeguarding Children Partnership (HSSCP) and South Tees Safeguarding Children Partnership (STSCP) said: “Both HSSCP and STSCP are committed to supporting our partners across Teesside in tackling the very real issue of child exploitation that is affecting too many children and young people in our area.  By working together to raise awareness of the many different forms of exploitation, we hope to improve the lives of children and young people and make their communities a safer place to live.”

Sarah Pritchard, of Barnardos said “Children and young people of Teesside are experiencing all forms of exploitation.  It is dangerous, and children should not have to suffer in this way.  The nature of this form of child abuse forces children to remain silent to protect themselves and their families, yet they are desperate for help.  As a community we have a duty of care to know what is happening in our community to our children, we need to arm ourselves with knowledge and close down the opportunities for offending adults to infiltrate our children.  Exploitation does not discriminate, the more space we give it, the more powerful it becomes.”