CSE is child abuse and children and young people who become involved face huge risks to their physical, emotional and psychological health and wellbeing.
CSE is complex and widespread and can manifest itself in different ways. In all cases those exploiting the child or young person have power over them, including by virtue of their age or physical strength. Exploitative relationships are characterised in the main by the child’s limited availability of choice, compounding their vulnerability. This inequality can take many forms but the most obvious include fear, deception, coercion and violence. Sexual exploitation can take many forms from seemingly ‘consensual’ relationships where sex is exchanged for attention, affection, accommodation or gifts, to serious organised crime including group and gang related exploitation as well as child trafficking.
It is not just an issue for girls and young women, but also a reality for boys and young men. However, there are different obstacles to detect when boys and young men are at risk of sexual exploitation or are being sexually exploited, as they have different barriers to disclosure. They may also find it harder to disclose that they are being abused by other men because of issues about sexual identity. It is important that professionals who are assessing young men do not become distracted when exploring their sexual identity and fail to notice that they may be being, or are at risk of being sexually exploited. This should be a key element of training for professionals working with 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’ (eg. Food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, gifts, money) as a result of them performing, and/or another 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/mobile phones without immediate payment or gain. In all cases, those exploiting the child/young person 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 being characterised in the main by the child or young person’s limited availability of choice resulting from their social/economic and/or emotional vulnerability.“
Download Guidance framework, screening tool and full risk assessment below.
CSE Framework version 4 10 July
Birmingham Childrens Safeguarding Portal 