If your child is in danger
If your child is in immediate danger, call your local emergency number now. Then find your country below.
Urgent
Immediate danger
If a child is in immediate danger, call your local emergency number now: 112 in the EU, 911 in the US and Canada, 999 in the UK, or 000 in Australia. Do not wait to collect evidence first.
Warning
SafeCircle is not an emergency service
SafeCircle is not an emergency service. We cannot contact the police, remove content or stop someone for you, and alerts can be delayed, missed or wrong. Use the services below for anything urgent.
Where to get help, by country
Numbers and services change. If a number does not connect, check the official site listed next to it. We include only numbers and services we could check against an official source.
Spain
- INCIBE cyber help line017Free, confidential cyber help for minors, families and schools. Open 08:00 to 23:00, every day. Website
- Emergency services112For immediate danger.
- Guardia Civil online reportingOnline formElectronic complaint form for some incidents. Cases involving minors must be reported in person.
France
United Kingdom
- CEOP reportMake a reportReport grooming or sexual abuse of a child online to the UK police agency.
- Emergency services999For immediate danger.
United States
- NCMEC CyberTipline1-800-843-567824-hour hotline. You can also report online at report.cybertip.org.
- Take It Downtakeitdown.ncmec.orgHelps remove nude or partly nude images of someone under 18.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineCall or text 988For a child or teen who may hurt themselves, or who is in crisis. Website
- Emergency services911For immediate danger.
Canada
- Cybertip.caReport onlineCanada’s tip line for online sexual exploitation of children.
- Emergency services911For immediate danger.
Australia
- Kids Helpline1800 55 1800Counselling for children and young people. Website
- Emergency services000For immediate danger.
European Union
Germany
Italy
Portugal
International
- INHOPE hotline networkFind your national hotlineMember hotlines for reporting child sexual abuse material online.
- StopNCII.orgstopncii.orgFree tool for adults whose intimate images are shared without consent. For images taken under 18, use Take It Down.
- Take It Downtakeitdown.ncmec.orgHelps remove nude or partly nude images of someone under 18.
What to do first
- Stay calm. Your child will take their cue from you. You can be steady even when you are frightened.
- Keep your child safe. Make sure they are with you and not alone with the person who is causing harm.
- Do not delete anything. Deleting messages, accounts or contacts can remove the evidence that police and helplines need.
- Take screenshots and keep evidence. Capture messages, usernames, profile links, dates and times. Store copies somewhere safe, not only on the device in question.
- Do not confront the other person. This can make the situation more dangerous and can lead to evidence being destroyed.
- Block only after you have saved the evidence. Blocking can stop further messages but can also remove what you need to show someone.
- Report it. Use the services listed above, and report the account to the app or website where it happened.
How to talk to your child afterwards
Start by listening. Your child may feel ashamed, scared or guilty, and may have been told to keep it secret. Say clearly that they are not in trouble for what happened and that it is not their fault.
- Ask open questions, and let your child set the pace. Do not push for every detail.
- Avoid blame, shame and punishment. Anger at the child can stop them from telling you next time.
- Let professionals take the full account. You do not need to repeat everything to them.
- Tell your child they can come back to you at any time, including about things that seem too big or too embarrassing.
- Get support for yourself from a trusted adult or a service listed above.
If your child talks about hurting themselves, or you think they may be in danger right now, contact emergency services or a crisis line straight away.