Welcome Child Sexual Exploitation

Briefing

Carron O’ByrneTransformation Manager

What is Child Sexual Exploitation? Child Sexual Exploitation is a criminal act that has a devastating impact upon children and young people.Sexual exploitation of children and young people under 18 involves exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where young people (or a third person or persons) receive ‘something’ (e.g. food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, gifts, money) as a result of performing/and/or others performing on them, sexual activities. Child sexual exploitation can occur through the use of technology without the child’s immediate recognition, for example being persuaded to post sexual images on the internet or on a mobile phone without immediate payment or gain.

What is Child Sexual Exploitation? (cont.) In all cases, those exploiting the child or young person will have power over them by virtue of their age, gender, intellect, physical strength and/or economic or other resources. Violence, coercion and intimidation are common, involvement in exploitative relationships is characterised in the main by the child or young person’s limited availability of choice resulting from their social, economic, and emotional vulnerabilities.

Child Sexual Exploitation Young People’s Experiences

Beyond the Shadows

Video

Who does Child Sexual Exploitation affect?

Any child could be a victim of child sexual exploitation:

Victims come from all communities. Male and female. Any socio-economic background. Groups of children and young people and multiple perpetrators may be

involved.

Who Needs to Understand Child Sexual Exploitation?

Children and young people Staff working with children, young people and families Those working in law enforcement and public protection Parents, carers and guardians The wider community

Factors that increase a Young Person’s vulnerability

Children and young people who are Looked After Experience of abuse / neglect / domestic violence Learning difficulties or disabilities Difficult school life Mental ill health Bereavement

Some of the indicators of child sexual exploitation

Regularly coming home late or going missing Unaccounted for monies or goods Reduced contact with family, friends and support networks Staying out overnight with no explanation Non school attendance or excluded due to behaviour Repeat offending

Impact of sexual exploitation on children and young people

Physical health Mental health Education and training Family relationships Friends and social relationships Behaviour Involvement in criminal activity Over 70% of adults involved in prostitution were sexually exploited as

children or teenagers (‘Not a game: young women and prostitution’, YMCA 2002)

What can you do to support Young People?

Speak with children and their parents/carers about sexual exploitation, healthy relationships and safe choices.

Recognise the warning signs of child sexual exploitation and respond. Follow local GIRFEC or Child Protection Procedures. Share information with social work and police to support the disruption

and prosecution of alleged perpetrators of this abuse.

Aberdeenshire's approach to Child Sexual Exploitation

Child & Family Protection Committee Findings from Reports (Rotherham) Set-up of the Strategic Group Aberdeenshire's Strategy and Action Plan, building

on good work already underway. Consulting with young people to inform our way

forward We don’t know what we don’t know

What our Young People told us.

Nikki’s story