Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

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Child sexual exploitation is a complex form of abuse and it can be difficult for those working with children to identify and assess. The indicators for child sexual exploitation can sometimes be mistaken for ‘normal adolescent behaviours’. It requires knowledge, skills, professional curiosity and an assessment which analyses the risk factors and personal circumstances of individual children to ensure that the signs and symptoms are interpreted correctly and appropriate support is given.

Government guidance, published in February 2017, defines Child Sexual Exploitation as:

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.

Practitioners working with children should familiarise themselves with Section A of this guidance.

Potential risk indicators include:

Acquisition of money, clothes, mobile phones etc. without plausible explanation;
Gang-association and/or isolation from peers/social networks;
Exclusion or unexplained absences from school, college or work;
Leaving home/care without explanation and persistently going missing or returning late;
Excessive receipt of texts/phone calls;
Returning home under the influence of drugs/alcohol;
Inappropriate sexualised behaviour for age/sexually transmitted infections;
Evidence of/suspicions of physical or sexual assault;
Relationships with controlling or significantly older individuals or groups;
Multiple callers (unknown adults or peers);
Frequenting areas known for sex work;
Concerning use of internet or other social media;
Increasing secretiveness around behaviours; and
Self-harm or significant changes in emotional well-being

CSE Awareness Raising

Hotels

Taxi Drivers

Resources

Quick Guide 15 What is Child Sexual Exploitation?

LSCB Children at Risk of Exploitation Strategy

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CSE Toolkit
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Child Exploitation Recognition, Referral, Risk and Response Guidance

Leaflet on Child Sexual Abuse Through Exploitation

Alternative terms for describing CSE - Make A Change Team

Suffolk CSE Disruption Toolkit for Professionals

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NWG Disruption Toolkit
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Capturing & Reporting Intelligence: CSE/CE - Guidance for Families, Professionals and the Community

Government Child Exploitation Disruption Toolkit

Government CSE Definition and Guide for Practitioners

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Make a Change Team: What We Do
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Make a Change Team - Child Referral Form

CSE Police and Prevention Toolkits - resources that may be useful for professionals when working with children and young people, their families and communities around CSE, including Boys and Young Men, BME, Child Criminal Exploitation, Deaf and Physically Disabled Children & Young People, LGBTQ+ Young People.

Unprotected, overprotected: meeting the needs of young people with learning disabilities who experience, or are at risk of, sexual exploitation

Youth Justice Legal Centre - Child Criminal Exploitation: county lines, child trafficking & modern slavery defences for children - a guide to assist professionals to recognise children who may be the victims of child criminal exploitation.

Children's Society - Online Exploitation Information and Guidance

Children's Society - Exploitation Z-Card

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Children's Society - Emoji Dictionary
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Net Aware - Guide to social networks, apps and games

More Information

Money Mules - Information about fraudsters asking people to receive money into their bank account, transferring it into another account and keeping some of the cash for themselves. Known as 'money mules', it is money laundering and is a crime.

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Barnardos
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NSPCC
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CEOP Think U Know
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The Children's Society
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The Lucy Faithfull Foundation
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Stop it Now
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Seen and Heard
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Keep Them Safe - Online Course 
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Ofsted Report - The sexual exploitation of children - it couldn't happen here, could it?