POLICE in the North-East are rolling out new training imported from America to protect children from sexual abuse.

Officers from Durham Constabulary earlier this year became the first in the country to use methods pioneered by the Texas Rangers in the United States.

About 400 frontline officers have taken part in the Intervene to Protect a Child programme (IPC) and learnt how behavioural signs can indicate that someone could be a child abuser.

It includes certain types of tattoos, photographs or literature, which may seem innocent, but could symbolise a sexual interest in children.

The training is taking place this week and includes representatives from police forces, councils, health and education from across the country.

Helen Murphy, from the force’s Safeguarding team said: “Durham Constabulary is committed to protecting vulnerable people and holding abusers to account.

“IPC forms part of a number of initiatives to ensure we protect young people and identify anyone who poses a risk to children.

“We work with a number of agencies such as Durham County Council to intervene to protect a child and it’s fantastic we now have the opportunity to share our learning on a national scale.”

IPC training has been seen as a success in the United States regarding cases that involve the sexual assault of children, human trafficking, enticing children, abduction with the recovery of over 160 exploited or at risk children and more than 100 observations of suspected high-risk threats to children.

It enables police officers, social workers, teachers and others to explore a situation further in order to establish whether a child may be at risk.

The training in Durham was initially delivered by Mentor Forensic Services whose co-director, Dr Joe Sullivan, is an internationally renowned expert on offender behaviour.

Dr Sullivan has supported many investigations into sexually motivated abduction, murder and assault of children.

He said: “The ‘Intervene to Protect a Child’ training empowers frontline professionals who are not child protection specialists to view their everyday, routine interactions with members of the public through a different lens.

"Whether they work in enforcement or with children in any capacity, it’s about igniting a professional curiosity that could ultimately lead to a child being safeguarded.

“We are delighted that Durham Police is leading the way in delivering this training at a national level, as it will benefit many more children across the UK.”