If you find out your child has been sexually abused by someone you don’t know, but is known to the child
Try and get your child to tell you who it is but don’t promise them that you will not tell anyone. It is your responsibility to tell the authorities so that they can do all they can to help to protect your child.
Talk to Social Services and the Police immediately, do not speak to the abuser yourself. It may not be just your child that is being harmed. If you speak to them before the police they may disappear or threaten and frighten other children and families into not talking.
It is important to remember that it will have taken a great deal of courage for your child to tell you, they may feel scared, confused and be extremely distressed. They may be just as worried about your feelings as their own. They just want the abuse to stop; they don’t necessarily want to split up the family. The consequences of telling you will mean that there has to be change and they probably will fear this and try to take responsibility for it.