Staffordshire Police

Sexual exploitation of children and young people under 18 involves exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where the young person or another person  receives ‘something’ (e.g. food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, gifts, money) as a result of the young person performing sexual activities or having sexual activities performed on them by another.

• The child or young person may form a close relationship with an older person.
• Children involved in sexual exploitation face great risks to their physical, emotional, and psychological health.
• Exploitative adults are very sophisticated and well practised in how they approach children
• Children are sometimes abused by people they know
• Often children will not talk about incidents of sexual exploitation
• Be sensitive to changes in your child’s behaviour. It is up to attentive adults to recognise the signs of sexual exploitation
• A child may become very secretive
• They may come home with gifts which cannot be explained; such as money, mobile phones, clothes etc.
• It is important that your child feels that you believe what they are telling you. Help and support your child, no matter what

Child exploitation takes many forms, including sexual activity with a child by one or many adults, child pornography and pornography on the Internet. The vast majority of children do not get involved voluntarily; they are coerced, enticed, threatened or are utterly desperate.

Child pornography has devastating effects on children, both on those who are exploited in the actual pictures and those who view it. Exploitative adults will encourage children to view child pornography, which leads them to see pornographic acts as acceptable and normal. This acceptance can make them more susceptible to being the subject of future sexual involvement.

Children abused through sexual exploitation are victims of sexual abuse. Unfortunately these victims often become recruiters themselves, in order to support themselves or to escape from the life they lead, they get involved in drugs and petty crime.

Internet-related child exploitation is now also a major cause for concern. Remember that as you or your child moves through the Internet, you leave information about yourself. Become computer literate and get to know the services your child uses. Establish some Internet safety rules with your child.

You should be aware of the indicators of sexual and physical abuse and exploitation, such as those listed under ‘Warning Signs’ opposite. Obviously there could be other explanations, but it is important to help your child no matter what the cause of the symptoms or the behaviour. For instance, you might become aware of and concerned about your child’s relationship with an older person (whom your child might describe as a friend, whether male or female) and/or frequent absences from home/school.

Local police and social services have small specialist teams who are specially trained to interview children with the support of their parents.

Warning Signs

• Are they staying out overnight?
• Have they been missing from home?
• Have they started to truant from school?
• Have they been coming home with money, clothes, jewellery and mobile phones they can’t account for?
• Have they begun a relationship with an older partner or adult that you are concerned about?
• Have you had concerns that they could be using drugs and / or alcohol?
• Has there been a change in their mood and behaviour?
• Are they losing contact with family and friends of their own age, and associating with an older age group?
• Do they lack self-esteem?
• Are they secretive about where they have been and whom with?

Action

If your child confides in you, believe them, support them and tell Social Services or the Police. If you think your child has been physically injured, seek medical help. Talk to your child about what is happening.

What to Say

It is important that your child feels that you believe what she or he is telling you. Make it clear that telling what happened was the right thing to do and that you will protect him or her from further harm.

Prevention

Know where your child is; be familiar with their friends and daily activities. Teach your child to trust their own feelings and assure them that they have a right to say NO to what they sense is wrong. Listen carefully to your child’s fears and be supportive.

Contacts

• Staffordshire First Response is a service for children in Staffordshire from pre-birth to 18 years who don't currently have a dedicated Social Worker.  Call them free on 0800 1313 126 from 8am - 8pm Monday-Friday or email: firstr@staffordshire.gov.uk (Opens in new window)
• Stoke-on-Trent Children and Young People Services: 01782235100
• Social Services Children’s Advice: 01274 437500
• Staffordshire Police: 101, Emergency: 999
• Chat Danger: www.chatdanger.com (Opens in new window)
• Childnet International: www.childnet-int.org (Opens in new window)
• NSPCC: 0808 800 5000
• Childline: 0800 11 11
• Barnardos: www.barnardos.org.uk (Opens in new window) - 0121 550 5271

Source: Information taken from ‘The Safe Parenting Handbook’ - www.safeparenting.org.uk (Opens in new window) with permission from Bradford Safeguarding Children Board - www.bradford-scb.org.uk (Opens in new window)