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The Stop It Now! UK and Ireland helpline

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How we can help you

Who can call the Stop It Now! helpline?

We can support anyone with a concern about child sexual abuse and its prevention. We encourage you to trust your gut and call, live chat or email us, whatever your worry.

Our experienced advisors don’t judge and can support anyone struggling with their own or a loved one’s sexual thoughts, feelings and behaviours towards children. We also support anyone worried about a child or young person’s sexual behaviour, including if they’ve got into trouble online.

You can also call the helpline if you’re an adult concerned about a child or young person who may have been abused, a professional calling for case advice or an adult survivor of child sexual abuse.

Read what happened when Jack called our helpline.

How can I call the Stop It Now! helpline?

You can call the helpline for free from the UK, in English or Welsh, on 0808 1000 900. Or you can use our live chat or send us a secure email.

If you are in Ireland, you can call the helpline on +44 1372 847 161 (charges subject to your service provider).

We can also arrange for an interpreter to join the call to translate over 200 languages. Our standard confidentiality policy applies and you will not have to provide any identifying information. All LanguageLine interpreters have undergone advanced security checks and are bound by a strict code of ethics, covering impartiality and non-disclosure.

Is the Stop It Now! helpline confidential?

The helpline is confidential and you don’t have to give us your full name or any other details that will identify you. But if you do, and you then give us information that identifies a child who has been – or is at risk of being – abused, or any information that may suggest that any other person is at risk of harm, we will pass that information on to the appropriate agencies. We will also pass on details of any criminal offence committed.

What happens when I call the helpline?

Our confidentiality policy is explained to callers at the beginning of the call. Our experienced advisors will:

  • talk through the issues, helping callers clarify their concerns
  • explore any immediate child protection considerations
  • provide information and support to help callers make sense of their situation and think about next steps
  • discuss available options, including referral to another agency or our own follow-up services
  • advise callers about actions to consider and agree one or more protective actions callers will take.

When is the Stop It Now! helpline open?

Mondays – Thursday: 9am – 9pm
Fridays: 9am – 5pm
We’re closed on weekends.
Bank holidays – limited opening times. Please see our social media page for updates on opening hours.

Chat opening hours:

Mondays – Tuesday: 9am – 12pm
Wednesday: 1pm – 4pm and 6pm – 9pm
Thursday: 9am – 12pm
Fridays: 9am – 12pm

Can I report someone to the Stop It Now! helpline?

We are not a reporting agency. To report a person, offence, website or illegal image, please contact one of the following organisations:

  • Crimestoppers: an independent charity where you can anonymously report any crime, including child sexual abuse, which is then passed to the relevant authorities
  • IWF: to report online sexual images of children
  • CEOP: to report someone’s online sexual behaviour with a child
  • Your local police force (or 101): if you suspect someone is sexually abusing a child.

Please contact our confidential helpline if you need further support.

How else can I get help?

If you’re not ready to speak to someone yet, you can use our confidential live chat, send us a secure email or look at our advice online.

Learn more about the helpline and how it works. 

We are a part of the Helplines Partnership.

Can you help us?

We are committed to ensuring that our services, policies and practices are free from discrimination and prejudice and that we provide equal treatment to all. Please consider completing an anonymous survey to help us continue to improve our services.

You will not be asked for any identifying information such as your name or contact details and it will take a couple of minutes to complete.

Next >
Worried about your thoughts/behaviour?
Worried about another adult?
Worried about a child or young person?
How to keep children safe
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