Child abduction 'is biggest fear of most parents': Charity launches 'Yell, Run, Tell' campaign

PARENTS fear their children are more at risk from abduction than from drugs, alcohol, horror videos or violence on television, according to a survey of 1,000 parents published yesterday by the charity, Kidscape.

In London, 98 per cent of parents put abduction above any other fear. In country areas the figure was 96 per cent.

How Safe Are Our Children?, which contained the survey, was published to mark the start of a campaign advising parents how to teach their children to deal with approaches by strangers, and even adults they know, who may try to abuse them.

Michele Elliot, director of Kidscape, said 'stranger danger', while frightening enough, needed to be put into perspective. The report says: 'Because stranger-killings are rare, children should not be allowed untrammelled freedom on the assumption that 'it won't happen to my child'. The figures for sexual assault indicate a much greater threat. A quarter of sexual attacks on children under 16 and 12 per cent of child rapes are committed by strangers.'

Attempted abductions often go unreported and the campaign encourages children to tell an adult should anyone suspicious approach them. Parents are advised to inform the police.

'We know children will not be attacked every time they leave their homes . . . but they should be taught how to handle threatening situations,' Ms Elliot said. Claire Rayner, a patron of the charity, said: 'The last thing we want to do is feed on parents' fear. We need to get across to parents not to hound children, but to provide them with the armour so they can go out.'

Rather than keeping children inside, parents should ensure their children's safety outside the home by telling them about risks and teaching them practical safety strategies.

Parents are advised to teach children to handle potentially dangerous situations with the slogan 'Yell, Run, Tell,'.

'British children are too polite,' Ms Rayner said. 'They are taught not to yell at grown-ups and they need to be encouraged to do so in the right situation.'

The report says that children should be told it is all right to kick and shout and make a big fuss if they feel threatened by someone. 'Children should be taught about practical safety in the same matter-of-fact way they are taught about road safety.'

For a free booklet on the campaign, contact Kidscape, PO Box 2308, London E14 OJZ.

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