Thread by @claireOT

As we know, predators are looking for three things:
1) access
2) opportunity
3) social cover
If you’re running an organisation that provides any of these elements, predators will be trying to use you to get to kids #Mermaids

#safeguarding works if we disrupt these three ways that predators use organisations:
1) access: ensure adults don’t have unsupervised access to minors: no private one-to-ones, no use of unregulated chat services/platforms, no mingling of minor and adult services

2) opportunity
Are you making it clear that adults and minors aren’t mixing? Are you ensuring no adult is working/talking to individual/groups of minors without a second adult being present? Do you ensure that unsupervised contact with minors is impossible?

3) social cover
Are you ensuring no inappropriate/sexualised behaviours are encouraged/facilitated/permitted? Are you developing a safeguarding culture: do you check out prospective volunteers and paid staff? Do you respond appropriately to safeguarding queries?

It’s clear that #Mermaids have failed, in several of these ways, if a public activist for “queer children” and “minor attracted persons” can become a trustee of a charity.
If the 3 conditions upthread are met, he won’t be the only one. #safeguarding