Finding out or suspecting that someone close to you is experiencing sexual thoughts about children, or engaging in illegal sexual behaviour, is usually very upsetting.
In this situation you may face tough questions: how can you help the person without approving of their behaviour? How can you make sure children are safe? How will this affect your own life, including your family’s reputation, legal issues, and emotional well-being? These worries can feel heavy and lonely, leaving you unsure about what to do or where to get help.
It’s important to know that these feelings and concerns are normal. Recognising how complicated this situation is can be the first step in dealing with it with care, understanding, and the right support.
We can support you
- someone you are close to has told you they experience sexual thoughts about children
- someone you are close to has committed a contact sexual offence against a child
- you have concerns about the behaviour of someone you know towards children
How can we help you?
We can help you understand the risks, and warning signs and develop family safety plans with information and advice on our Parents Protect website.
If you have any concerns, questions, or would just like to talk about what you are going through, our non-judgemental helpline advisors are here to support you. You can stay anonymous and don’t have to give your real name or any contact details. If you’re not ready to speak to anyone yet, you can also use our live chat or send a secure email.
