There are different types of child exploitation. When considering child exploitation, it is important to be aware of the different terms that can be used:

• Exploitation is the act of benefitting from someone’s work or actions at the expense of that person.

• 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 in exchange for (a)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.

• Child Criminal Exploitation occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18. The victim may have been criminally exploited even if the activity appears consensual. Child Criminal Exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.

• Human trafficking is facilitating the travel of a person from one place to another for the purposes of exploitation.

• Debt bondage is the most common form of modern slavery. Debt bondage occurs when a person is forced to work to pay off a debt. They are tricked into working for little or no pay, with no control over their debt.

• Grooming is when someone builds an emotional connection with a child or young person to gain their trust for the purposes of abuse or exploitation. Grooming can take place in the real world or online.

Signs of exploitation:

• Unexplained acquisition of gifts, phones etc.

• Excessive time on social media

• Relationships with controlling individuals or groups

• Leaving without explanation

• Physical assault/unexplained injuries

• Sexually Transmitted Infections

• Substance Misuse

• Pregnancy

• Changes in behaviour (e.g. missing from home, withdrawal, aggression)

• Missing from home episodes

• Carrying weapons

• Significant decline in school performance or engagement

• Gang association

• Isolation from peers or social networks

• Self-harm or significant changes in emotional well-being

• Involvement in Anti-Social Behaviour

• Pregnancy

Vulnerabilities/risk factors:

• Being in residential care

• Living in poverty

• Learning disability and/or physical disability

• Poor mental health

• Substance misuse issues

• Being excluded from education

• Previous experience of neglect, physical and/or sexual abuse

• Lack of a safe home environment (e.g. domestic violence or parental substance misuse)

• Connections to gangs (familial links)

• Lack of positive peer relationships

Child Exploitation is a Child Protection issue- always follow your safeguarding procedures.

Think carefully about the language you use to describe exploitation

It is imperative that appropriate terminology is used when discussing children and young people who have been exploited or are at risk of exploitation. Language implying that the child or young person is complicit in any way, or responsible for the crimes that have happened or may happen to them, must be avoided. Language should reflect the presence of coercion and the lack of control young people have in abusive or exploitative situations and must recognise the severity of the impact exploitation has on the child or young person. Victim-blaming language may reinforce messages from perpetrators around shame and guilt. This in turn may prevent the child or young person from disclosing their abuse, through fear of being blamed by professionals. When victim-blaming language is used amongst professionals, there is a risk of normalising and minimising the child’s experience, resulting in a lack of appropriate response.

Provide opportunities for discussion of topics relating to exploitation

Use PSHE lessons to explore topics such as safety, consent and healthy relationships. PSHE lesson plans on topics such as these are provided within the Children’s Society Education Toolkit: The Children’s Society Toolkit - Healthy Schools (healthyschoolscp.org.uk)

Use School Nurse drop in sessions as a safe place for young people to discuss sexual activity, where local services such as St Mary's Centre :: Home (stmaryscentre.org) can be signposted to if needed.  St Mary’s Centre can offer school workshops on Childhood Sexual Exploitation, please contact them directly for further information.

Other things to consider:

• Exploitation often involves trafficking of young people – if you have suspicions that a young person is being trafficked for the purpose of exploitation, you should advocate for a NRM referral (National Referral Mechanism).

• What are the strengths around the young person - does the young person have any existing positive relationships which we can build upon to provide understanding and support? Is this you?

• Do you have any information or insight to share or access that we could consider as ‘intelligence’ that will help inform a safeguarding response?

• Listen to the young person and how they might describe criminal exploitation or what is happening to them in their terms?

If you have any concerns and want to talk to someone for advice or information, you can telephone the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub on 0161 253 5678 (outside normal office hours 0161 253 6606) or if you are a professional complete the Multi-Agency Referral Form. The more information children's social care get at the first point of contact, the more likely it is that appropriate services will be delivered at the earliest opportunity to help children and families.

Telephone Support:

Useful websites:

• CSE Police and Prevention

• NSPCC

• CEOP

• PACE (Parents Against Child Sexual Exploitation)

• Parent Zone

• Young Minds

• Rethink

• NSPCC’s Childline

• Not In Our Community

• NSPCC - Types of Abuse

• Kooth

• Fearless

• Samaritans

• Rethink

• St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre

Reporting Concerns:

• If you think a child could be in immediate danger dial 999 and contact emergency services.

• If your concerns do not require an emergency response or you wish to share intelligence contact the Police on 101.

• You can also share information and intelligence anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or completing and online form on www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

• You can report any concerns about online grooming to the National Crime Agency.

• Report any child abuse images you find online to the Internet Watch Foundation.