PSCO TELLS PARENTS HOW TO SPOT SIGNS OF EXPLOITATION

AN award winning police community support officer has highlighted the importance of the public's help in protecting children in Staffordshire from the dangers of grooming and exploitation.

- By MAIL REPORTER

PCSO Megan Rogers won the Excellence in Performance accolade at this year's Staffordshire Association of Women in Policing Awards.

And in the aftermath of the ceremony, she has been reflecting on how she helped to protect 15 children who were at risk of being exploited.

PCSO Rogers said: "The most valuable thing I have learned by working to protect children is how vital public information is.

"When members of the public tell us of instances where young people have been loitering around, seemingly with no purpose, or engaging in nuisance or anti-social behaviour, to me that is the first sign that these children are potential victims of exploitation.