CHESHIRE Police is backing a new national campaign to support victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation.

The campaign, named ‘When You Are Ready’, has been created with input from those who have experienced abuse, and aims to encourage people to seek support.

The initiative hopes to make victims and survivors feel acknowledged, and encourages them to inform a friend, reach out to a support organisation, and feel empowered to take a step forward whenever they are ready.

As part of their support for the campaign, Cheshire Police will be running a week-long operation to target anyone causing harm to children across the county.

Detective Chief Superintendent Gareth Lee, head of protecting vulnerable people for Cheshire Police, said: "The protection of children is an absolute priority for us as a force, and we want to make sure that those who would do harm to children know that we won’t let it go, and we will take action in Cheshire.

"This operation and the launch of the national campaign will shine a light on this activity, but it’s very much our business as usual the whole year round.

"If you’ve been abused or exploited as a child, please report it to us, when you are ready.

"We understand. We believe. We care."

The ‘When You Are Ready’ campaign includes a three-minute film featuring the voices of victims and survivors of both contact and online offences.

The film does not detail the abuse suffered, but rather focuses on the difficult decision each victim and survivor made to disclose their abuse to a loved one, support organisation, or the police, and the impact this decision had on their life.

This aims to resonate with other victims and survivors, reminding them that they are not alone, and that others like them are living and thriving.

The campaign also seeks to encourage victims and survivors to reach out for support if they feel it is right for them, whether this means telling a friend or contacting a support organisation.

For those ready to take the next step in disclosing their experience, the film directs victims and survivors to the bespoke campaign website, which provides information on a range of services and support organisations, as well as details on how to report to the police.

Assistant Chief Constable Becky Riggs, the National Police Chiefs' Council's lead for child protection and abuse and investigation, said: "We want victims and survivors to feel positive and hopeful after seeing this campaign.

"From our work with victims and survivors, we understand it can take many years to process the abuse or exploitation that they experienced.

"For some, it may even take years just to acknowledge that what they experienced was, in fact, abuse, and not the loving or caring actions of someone they could trust.

"We also understand, from extensive research undertaken, that ‘justice’ for victims and survivors doesn’t necessarily mean a criminal justice outcome, and simply telling someone can be enough.

"However, if victims do take the hugely difficult decision to disclose their abuse, they should be reassured that there are organisations who can provide help and support, whenever they are ready."