Child sexual exploitation is a form of child abuse and is against the law.
The reasons why young people can be vulnerable to sexual exploitation can be due to a number of factors including low self-esteem and a poor self-image.

Vulnerabilities are identified and targeted by the abuser, whether the young person is living with their family, looked after, away from home or they have run away. In a bid to gain their trust, abusers then groom the young person.

The people involved in this type of abuse aim to drive a wedge between you and your child, closing down the normal channels of communication and emotional bond between you, so it is very important to recognise the warning signs that your child may be a victim of, or at risk of sexual exploitation.

There are no stereotypical victims of CSE, male and females can be a victim of CSE, but the below warning signs are indications that a child may be being exploited:

• Regularly missing from home or school and staying out all night
• Change in behaviour – becoming aggressive and disruptive or quiet and withdraw
• Change in physical appearance – new clothes/hair style/more make up as well as cuts and bruising
• Unexplained gifts or new possessions such as clothes, jewellery, mobile phones or money that can’t be accounted for
• Increase in mobile phone use or secretive use
• A significantly older ‘boyfriend’ or ‘friend’ or lots of new friends
• Spending excessive amounts of time online or on their mobile and becoming increasingly secretive about this activity
• Sudden involvement in criminal behaviour or increased offending
• Sexual health problems, repeat sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy or terminations

Technologies such as mobile phones and the internet mean that grooming may occur without the child’s permission or without the child even recognising that they are being exploited; for example through being persuaded to post sexual images over the internet or through mobile phone images.

• Talk to your child or the child in your care about healthy and risky relationships
• Encourage your child to tell you which websites they’re using and ask them to show you how they work
• Teach your child to be very careful to befriend and communicate with only trusted people that they know
• Assure them that it’s OK to come to you or another trusted adult if they feel threatened by or uncomfortable about something they have seen or done on a social networking site/instant messaging service

For more information about child sexual exploitation visit the following organisation’s websites. There are many other organisations that provide help, support and further information:

Young people can engage in internet gaming through consoles, computers, websites or apps which also allow them to chat with others either vocally or through text. This carries with it the danger that these young people may play with adult strangers who are willing to abuse the fact that individuals of any age play these games by building ‘friendships’ with young people for the sole purpose of grooming them.

How to help your children play internet games safely

Ensure your child never shares photographs or videos of themselves to individuals online or reveals any of their personal information. Remind your child not to add individuals they meet through online games on any social media platforms.

Not all individuals that your child may encounter during internet gaming will be who they claim to be so it is crucial for you to explain this to them. It is wise to highlight to your child that they have the ability to block, report and mute other players if they make them feel uneasy in any way. Reassure your child that if they are worried about anything that they experience whilst online gaming that they can always come and speak to you.

Check your child’s privacy settings as some games consoles allow you to limit and control what other players can see about your child’s profile. These privacy settings can also prohibit individuals that your child does not know from contacting them through messages or friend requests.