Child Sexual Exploitation
What is Child Sexual Exploitation?
Child sexual exploitation is a form of child sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity
(a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or
(b) for the financial advantage or increased status of
the perpetrator or facilitator.
The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Child sexual exploitation does not always involve
physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.
Types of Child Sexual Exploitation
CSE happens in person and online. An abuser may gain a child’s trust or may look to control them through violence or blackmail before moving onto sexually abusing them. This can happen in a short period of time.
When a child is sexually exploited online they may be persuaded or forced to:
- send or post sexually explicit images of themselves
- film or stream sexual activities
- have sexual conversations
The short film below, highlights how online grooming can take place:
Sexually Coerced Extortion
Sexually coerced extortion is a serious form of blackmail that involves the exploitation of nude, explicit or sensitive images or videos to coerce victims into unwanted actions such as sharing further explicit imagery or paying to prevent further sharing.
Perpetrators (often using a false identity) often target individuals through online platforms, social media, or dating apps. They may establish trust and rapport, leading victims to share intimate content willingly or unknowingly through webcam sessions or private messages.
Sextortion can cause significant emotional distress, feelings of shame, fear, and anxiety. It’s crucial to remember that victims are never at fault, and support is available to help cope with the aftermath.
For more information click here: Protecting Young People from Sextortion: A Guide for Parents and Safeguarding Professionals – Ineqe Safeguarding Group
Help if you’re worried about ‘sextortion’ or online blackmail (iwf.org.uk)
Sextortion – Resources – UK Safer Internet Centre
Spotting the Signs of CSE
NYSCP has put together a short animated video to explain what the signs of CSE can look like and what you should do if you spot them:
Seen & Heard have produced a powerful short 20 minute feature film for health care professionals (but professionals from other settings can still relate) on the importance of spotting the signs of sexual abuse and the conversations as a first responder you can have with a child to support them and stop the abuse. Click below to view Tyler’s story:
Child Exploitation – Would you know the signs?
Parents are often the first to notice that their child is being exploited. It is so important to act quickly and intervene early if you suspect your child is being exploited.
Listen to some parents whose children have been exploited talk about the changes they noticed in their child.
The Night Time Economy & Hotel Industry
Barnardo’s animated film shows how frontline workers in the night time economy can play and important role in helping keep young people safe from sexual exploitation. The night time economy can provide a network of eyes and ears within the community after dark:
Do you see me? Is a short film to raise awareness within the hotel industry about CSE and trafficking. It shows how staff employed in the hotel industry how to recognise the signs and what to do if they suspect children are being exploited and trafficked on their premises:
Where to go for further information and support?
There are a range of local and national support services who can provide further information and support, some are listed below.
However, should you have an immediate safeguarding concern about a child in North Yorkshire go to the NYSCP Worried About a Child page for advice on the steps you need to take.
Toolkits to support practice
The Home Office have produced a toolkit to support frontline staff working to safeguard children and young people under the age of 18 from sexual and criminal exploitation. This includes, but is not exclusive to law enforcement, social care, housing education, the voluntary sector and related partner organisations. To download a copy of the toolkit click below.
Home Office Child Exploitation Disruption Toolkit:
Local Support Services
Age range: 10 – 25 years
Target: Children and young adults at risk of exploitation or frequently missing from home.
SOS+ is an award winning extension to the St Giles’ award winning gangs project. The approach uses trained professionals to equip children and young people to think critically, assess risk and make better life choices, making them more resilient to the risks of becoming involved in gangs, exploitation and violence.
SOS+ puts trained staff with lived experience at the heart of the solution. Having once been involved in gangs, exploitation and violence themselves, staff are imbued with passion and collective desire to ensure the young people they work with do not make the same mistakes they once did.
The service offers:
*Prevention and awareness raising across educational settings
*Parent/carer information sessions
*Professionals/teacher training
*Intensive mentoring for those most at-risk via embedded support in schools and other community settings
*Supporting victims of exploitation
*Support with the impacts of crime and to rebuild the resilience from harms experienced.
Find out more: SOS+ – St Giles (stgilestrust.org.uk)
email: northyorkshireSOSplus@stgilestrust.org.uk
Leaflets available: NYSCP (safeguardingchildren.co.uk), NYSCP (safeguardingchildren.co.uk)
Ivison Trust helps parents and carers across the UK, including in North Yorkshire, understand what is happening to their child and how parents are the people who are best to help their child exit exploitative relationships. Ivison Trust do this by offering:
– One-to-one telephone advice and support to parents
– Facilitating meetings with similarly-affected parents for peer support
– Advising how to establish rights as parents and work in partnership with statutory service such as police and social workers
– Advice and support when pursuing disruption and prosecution of the perpetrators of child exploitation
– Befriending scheme
For more information on PACE visit their website: Ivison Trust
National Support Services
NSPCC provides support nationally on the prevention of child abuse, including a wide range of resources on CSE. Visit the NSPCC website here to view the work they are carrying out on CSE.
Think U Know from CEOP, supports professional to deliver education and raise awareness of online child abuse and exploitation. To view the Think U Know Resource Library click here.
The NWG, is an exploitation response charitable unit who disseminate information to services working on the issue of child exploitation and trafficking within the UK. They offer support and advice, provide updates, training and share national developments.
Visit the NWG’s website here.
Child protection organisations and law enforcement agencies – including the NWG Network, Lucy Faithfull Foundation, Centre for expertise on child sexual abuse, Marie Collins Foundation and the National Police Chief’s Councilhave produced an easy access service directory to help partners or family members of those who have been arrested for accessing child sexual abuse material find support and information.
As some family members may want to also find services for the person who has offended, it includes details of services for those who have accessed child sexual abuse material.
If you are working with a family needing support, or you need support yourself, the list of Services Supporting Indirect Victims of Child Sexual Abuse Material Offending can be found below.
Service Directory (3).pdf (mariecollinsfoundation.org.uk)
NYSCP Podcasts
NYSCP has produced a podcast series on Engaging with Children and Families affected by Child Exploitation.
Each episode we sit down with a frontline professional in North Yorkshire to discuss the challenges and approaches they use to support children and families affected by child exploitation.
NYSCP further resources:
MACE Persons who pose a risk by exploitation One Minute Guide
Child Sexual Exploitation Practice guidance
All Practice Guidance and One Minute Guides can be found in our professionals section: NYSCP (safeguardingchildren.co.uk)
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