PEOPLE are inclined to believe child sexual exploitation does not go on in their area, according to Barnardo’s Scotland.

The charity carried out research into the public’s perception of the issue and found respondents from the Highlands and Islands did not consider it to be a major problem.

Minister for Children and Young People, Maree Todd, will join the charity in Inverness on Monday to launch its findings.

She said: “Child sexual exploitation is everyone’s responsibility.

“For it to be preventable, it requires everyone to play a part in acknowledging that it isn’t only an urban issue, and that sadly it can happen anywhere. We hope that by talking about this issue, more people will be able to recognise instances of exploitation occurring, and have the confidence to report it to the authorities.”

The charity said the current level and nature of the Scottish public’s understanding of exploitation remained “relatively low”.

Daljeet Dagon from the charity said: “It is very concerning that the public just don’t recognise some behaviours as being abusive and exploitative.”