Child sexual exploitation
What is this and what are the signs?
Finding out your child has been sexually exploited can be distressing and you might not know what to do next. Young people often trust their abuser and don’t know that what’s happening is wrong or are unable to tell anyone due to fear, intimidation and violence.
The NSPCC has advise to help you keep children and young people safe from sexual exploitation.
What is it?
Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type of sexual abuse. When a child or young person is exploited they're given things, like gifts, drugs, money, status and affection, in exchange for performing sexual activities. Children and young people are often tricked into believing they're in a loving and consensual relationship. This is called grooming. They may trust their abuser and not understand that they're being abused.
Children and young people can be trafficked into or within the UK to be sexually exploited. They're moved around the country and abused by being forced to take part in sexual activities, often with more than one person. Young people in gangs can also be sexually exploited.
Sometimes abusers use violence and intimidation to frighten or force a child or young person, making them feel as if they've no choice. They may lend them large sums of money they know can't be repaid or use financial abuse to control them.
Anybody can be a perpetrator of CSE, no matter their age, gender or race. The relationship could be framed as friendship, someone to look up to or romantic. Children and young people who are exploited may also be used to 'find' or coerce others to join groups.
Types of child sexual exploitation
CSE can happen in person or online. An abuser will gain a child's trust or 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 might be persuaded or forced to:
send or post sexually explicit images of themselves
film or stream sexual activities
have sexual conversations.
Once an abuser has images, video or copies of conversations, they might use threats and blackmail to force a young person to take part in other sexual activity. They may also share the images and videos with others or circulate them online.
Gangs use sexual exploitation:
to exert power and control
for initiation
to use sexual violence as a weapon.
Children or young people might be invited to parties or gatherings with others their own age or adults and given drugs and alcohol. They may be assaulted and sexually abused by one person or multiple perpetrators. The sexual assaults and abuse can be violent, humiliating and degrading.
Signs of sexual abuse and grooming
Being frightened of some people, places or situations.
Bring secretive.
Sharp changes in mood or character.
Having money or things they can't or won't explain.
Physical signs of abuse, like bruises or bleeding in their genital or anal area.
Sexually transmitted infections.
Pregnancy.
Other things you might notice
Having an older boyfriend or girlfriend.
Staying out late or overnight.
Having a new group of friends.
Missing from home or care, or stopping going to school or college.
Hanging out with older people, other vulnerable people or in antisocial groups.
Involved in a gang.
Involved in criminal activities like selling drugs or shoplifting.
This hard hitting video from Barnado's talks about CSE and Project Phoenix that supports those who have escaped.