PARENTS are being encouraged to talk pants with their children as part of a new campaign which aims to stop sexual abuse before it starts.
The Post revealed the number of children claiming to have been abused by an adult had risen from 400 between April 2011 and April 2012 to 488 for the same period in 2012 and 2013.
The biggest increase was in allegations of abuse by people in positions of trust – rising from seven claims to 48 in one year. Children's charity NSPCC has now launched the Underwear Rule campaign to help parents tell children in a simple way that sexual abuse is not acceptable.
Using the acronym PANTS, the campaign takes inspiration from the ChildLine Schools Service, which runs workshops for Year Five and Six pupils on all types of abuse.
ChildLine Schools Service area co-ordinator Emma Grishin, who visits classrooms across Notts, said: "The way we approach it in schools has really dictated how the campaign is going to run.
"We know that it can be a difficult conversation to have and actually we are in quite a privileged position in that we can deliver the message in a school setting and we know lots of parents really appreciate the assistance.
"The PANTS aspect of it works because it's nice and easy to remember and we hope it will become as common as talking about the Green Cross Code."
The campaign comes as a new online YouGov poll shows that while cases such as that of Jimmy Savile have heightened the awareness of sexual abuse, many parents still don't know how to discuss the subject with children.
Out of the 1,204 parents who took part in the survey, half of them admitted to never having spoken to their sons or daughters about sexual abuse.
Among those who had spoken about it, 43 per cent said it was a difficult conversation.
Posters and leaflets explaining the Underwear Rule and giving parents advice on how to discuss the subject with their children will also be available.
Liz Tinsley, service manager at NSPCC Nottingham, said: "Obviously, there's been an increase in awareness about sexual abuse and I think it's got parents thinking about how they can talk about that with their child and potentially help protect them from it.
"This new campaign has a very simple message – it is not OK to be touched by anyone where your pants are, ever – and it's a very easy way for parents to talk about the subject."
The Underwear Rule campaign will run for six weeks on 60 radio stations across the country. Netmums is supporting the initiative, as is mother and foster carer Sarah Gibson, of Cropwell Butler, who has already used the Underwear Rule as part of her role as a ChildLine Schools Service volunteer.
"Everyone wears underwear, so children do really seem to understand the rule and can make the connection between what's acceptable and what's not acceptable," she said.
"In my experience, when I've used the Underwear Rule, there isn't any of the usual embarrassed giggling or uncomfortable shuffling that might accompany mentioning body references."
Would you use the Underwear Rule to speak to your children about sexual abuse? Tell us how you tackle tricky subjects by writing to newsdesk@nottinghampstgroup.co.uk.