A recent report has revealed that local organisations are working together to prevent such concerns. Part of this work includes delivering lessons in schools, which focus on sexting, indecent images of children, sextortion, online predators, nudifying apps and grooming.
The findings come from the Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy report for last year. It states that more than 20 schools received these lessons, which are being delivered by the digital safety lead from Bailiwick Law Enforcement.
‘This can be whole year group assemblies, staff training, one class or even a small group or individual students,’ the report states.
‘The lessons cover ages 10 to 16 years with assemblies offered to all ages from 4 to 18 years.’
Topics are adapted to the child’s age and stage of development. Associate public health specialist, Jenny Rivers-Moore said children as young as 10 would now benefit from learning awareness.
‘We want to be giving children the right education and the right information at the right age,’ she said.
‘You can’t go telling a 10-year-old about pornography. Although, now we probably do need to be doing it. In the UK, 30% of 11-year-olds have accessed really violent and dangerous pornography.’
The local report shows 20 cases of child sexual exploitation, 96 of sexual abuse and 72 of harmful sexual behaviour were referred to safeguarding services in the island last year.
Dr Rivers-Moore is also the newly-established sexual and reproductive health strategy lead. The island’s previous sexual health strategy, which ran from 2017 to 2023, did not include a focus on digital and online safety.
As well as the DSL’s lessons, Year 9 students across eight schools received child sexual exploitation and grooming awareness lessons from the Youth Commission in 2025. These include videos, activities, and discussions, exploring the warning signs and who students can contact if they are worried.
‘We know that our sexual offence rate has gone up,’ said Dr Rivers-Moore.
‘This area of the strategy relies on a multi-agency approach. Especially between Bailiwick Law Enforcement and the Sexual Assault Referral Centre, the multi-agency support hub, Islands Safegaurding Children Partnership, Orchard Centre and Choices.’
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