A SERIES of free online sessions have been launched to help parents in Cleveland keep youngsters safe from exploitation.

The virtual sessions will enable parents and carers to spot the signs of modern slavery and exploitation, specifically child criminal exploitation.

Experts from Barnardo’s, Cleveland Police’s Complex Exploitation Team and training providers Edge NE will provide crucial information on what exploitation looks like in Cleveland.

The online conversation will help understanding about grooming techniques used by organised crime groups to lure children into criminal exploitation and county lines drug networks.

The webinars have been funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner after a successful bid secured £3,000 from the Modern Slavery Organised Immigration Crime Programme.

Acting Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Oldroyd, said: “By increasing awareness of the tactics organised crime groups use to entice young people, we stand a chance of intervening to safeguard and prevent people being drawn into serious crime which puts young lives at greater risk of violence and other harmful behaviours or can have devastating consequences."

The sessions run in March, book here.