A NEW scheme has been launched to try and keep children more secure when using Bexley's leisure facilities.
Leisure Watch, a joint venture between Bexley Council, the police and Parkwood Leisure which manages Bexley's leisure centres, trains staff to be observant and aware of adults' activities and behaviour in centres.
The charity, the Derwent Initiative, which developed the scheme, says 70 per cent of adults who abuse children are completely unknown to the authorities. But there are clues in the way they behave in leisure centres which can trigger alarm bells in observant staff who are trained to look out for them.
The scheme is in operation at Crook Log and Erith leisure centres and at Lamorbey swimming centre in Sidcup.
But Parwood Leisure moved to reassure parents the adoption of the scheme had not been sparked by any assault or incident at a Bexley centre.
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