Child Criminal Exploitation

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.  (Department for Education February 2017)

A common feature of CSE is that the child or young person does not recognise the coercive nature of the relationship and does not see himself or herself as a victim of exploitation.  Perpetrators of CSE can be from within or from outside a child or young person’s family.

CSE also needs to be placed firmly in the context of abusive relationships and specifically; the impact that domestic violence can have on how a child or young person views relationships. For a child or young person growing up in such an environment, the impact of their experiences can create limited and limiting expectations with regards to what constitutes a healthy relationship; thus increasing their susceptibility to exploitation in the future.

HSCB Guide to Keeping a Young Person Safe

• Parents and Carers Guide to Keeping a Young person Safe
• Parents and Carers Guide to Keeping a Young person Safe – Polish
• A young persons guide to keeping safe

NSPCC Pants Rule

• NSPCC Pants Rule Guide for Parents and Carers – English
• NSPCC Pants Rule Guide for Parents and Carers – Polish
• NSPCC Pants Rule Guide for Parents and Carers – Latvian
• NSPCC Pants Rule Guide for Foster Carers

NSPCC PANTS Rule Guide (Children)

• NSPCC Pants Rule Guide for Children

Other Resources

There are many other organisations that could also help, and a lot of information online. The following websites have information about issues relating to CSE, including information about handling relationships online and relationship abuse.

• CEOP Think You Know
• This Is Abuse
• Barnardo’s
• Young Minds
• Children’s Society
• Samaritans
• Missing people
• NSPCC Protect & Respect
• Hounslow Youth Counselling
• Child Sexual Exploitation Procedures
• CSE NHS England Pocket Guide
• Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation
• Safer London Foundation ­
• STOP CSE – NWG Network
• Office of the Children’s Commissioner
• CSE: Ofsted thematic report
• The London Child Exploitation Operating Protocol