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  In today's large, busy shopping environments, it is all too easy for young children to become separated from their parents or other adult carers. When a young child becomes lost in a busy street, store or shopping centre, it can be distressing for both the adult and the child.
Most children who become lost whilst out shopping are re-united with their families very quickly. However, a lost child is vulnerable, and needs to be aware of what to do in such circumstances. The Safe Child Scheme gives advice to children, parents, carers and shop staff under the Wrexham 'Crimelink' scheme.
The Wrexham Safe Child Scheme is a partnership approach to helping to reunite young children with their families if they become separated whilst out shopping or in a crowd.
Help to keep children safe, by knowing what to do.
Advice for parents and carers
Help prevent children from becoming lost:
- Encourage children to stay close to you in shops and to hold your hand or trolley
- Don't leave children in unsupervised play areas
- Use reins or wrist straps on young children in busy places
Help to find them quickly if they are lost:
- Make sure children know what the Safe Child 'holding hands'
picture (on this leaflet) looks like.
- Make sure that children know that store staff usually wear uniforms and name badges. Teach them to tell an assistant if they do become lost (staff at checkouts are easiest to recognize)
- Teach children to tell staff their name, address and telephone number.
If you do become separated from your child:
- Go to the nearest till or ask the nearest member of staff.
- In the street, go to the nearest premises displaying the 'Safe Child' logo.
- Give staff the details of the missing child, in order that a description
may be circulated via the 'Crimelink' radio to other member premises in Wrexham.
- In the child cannot be found, ask the staff to contact the Police
Advice for children
If you are lost:
If you cannot see the person you came shopping with:
- Stop
- Stand Still
- Look around for the person
- Do not run around.
If you see the person you were with:
- Go straight back to them and hold their hand.
If you are in a shop and do not see the person you were with:
- Walk to a checkout and tell the person working there that you are lost
If you are lost in a shopping centre or a street:
- Look for a shop displaying the 'Safe Child' Logo
If you cannot see a shop displaying this sign STRAIGHT AWAY, go into another shop. Tell someone who is working on the checkout or on the information desk that you are lost.
ALWAYS REMEMBER, DO NOT GO TO ANYONE ELSE.
Advice for shop staff
If you find a young child on their own, or if a young child comes up
and tells you they are lost:
- Get down to the child's height
- Smile and tell the child your name first, and that you work there.
- Show the child your name badge if you have one
- Try to find out the child's name. Complete a brief search of the immediate area with the child.
- Notify CCTV operators via the Crimelink radio. Use the public address system, but do not announce the name of the child.
- Complete the 'Safe Child Description' form which has been supplied to the store under this scheme.
- Confirm the identity of anyone claiming the child, and make sure the child can identify him or her. Do not release the child to anyone under 16 years old. If in doubt, ring the Police.
- If the child is not collected, it is preferable for the staff member who made the initial contact to stay with the child. If it is necessary, for any reason, to take the child to a separate room, at least two members of staff should remain with the child at all times.
- If the parent or other adult carer cannot be traced, contact the Police.
For more information, please contact:
Town Centre Project Officer,
Wrexham County Borough,
Lambpit St,
Wrexham.
Tel: 01978 292540
Email: tourism@wrexham.gov.uk
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