Although it is vital that children know how to respond if they are approached by a stranger it is also very important that they are taught how to reduce the risk to themselves by learning a few preventative measures:-

• Always make sure that your child tells you where they are going, who they are going with and when they are likely to return.

• Always reiterate the importance of steering clear of lonely places such as woodland, quiet lanes etc.

• When walking down a street, make sure that your child knows to walk on the side of the pavement as far away from the kerb as possible – this will prevent anyone from trying to pull them into a passing car.

• Teach your child not to speak to strangers – both men and women have been known to abduct children therefore children should not speak to either, however kind or polite they appear to be.

• Teach your child never to take sweets or gifts from strangers.

• Inform your child of some of the ploys which strangers may use to entice them away such as “I’ve lost my dog/keys, will you help me find it/them?” Children can be very innocent and trusting and this kind of tactic will often tempt them into helping. Child abductors are very astute and know the best ways of gaining a child’s interest and, ultimately, their trust.

• Although fun fairs, amusement arcades, parks and swimming baths are all fun places for children to visit they are also the kind of places that paedophiles hang around and extra care should be taken if you are allowing your child to visit these types of settings. If possible make sure that your child is part of a group and that, preferably, an adult will be in attendance.

It is always better that children are prepared for every eventuality although, hopefully being approached by a stranger will probably never happen to your child it is essential that they are aware of how to react should the need arise. You need to stress how important this kind of situation is and you should never “play down” the seriousness of child abduction nor should you look to use “scare tactics” on your child.

What you should teach your child to do if they feel threatened:

• Make sure that your child knows that it is alright to make a fuss if they feel scared or threatened. Teach them to scream and shout and attract as much attention as possible. This will usually result in their attacker fleeing to avoid recognition and reprimand.

• If your child has been grabbed, tell them to struggle, kick, bite, hit and lash out. Not only will this attract attention, which the abductor will want to avoid, it may loosen any hold a stranger may have on your child giving them vital seconds to escape.

• If your child has something taken from them such as money or a mobile telephone, tell them to let their possessions go without a fight. No-one can be sure nowadays that a mugger is not carrying a weapon and a lost mobile telephone is nothing in comparison to a lost life. Possessions can be replaced – it is not worth risking serious injury or even death to protect personal possessions.

• Make sure that your child knows they are not to blame for the offence. Children can often feel that it is their fault if they find themselves in difficult circumstances and this can be very worrying and stressful to the child in addition to the trauma they have already suffered.

• If your child is in distress and needs help tell them to look for a police officer, traffic warden or any other uniformed personnel. If none are in sight tell them to go into a busy shop and to raise the alarm. Under no circumstances should the child knock on the door of a house or flag down a passing car to ask for help.

• Teach your child how to call for help using the emergency services – dial 999.