Child Sexual Exploitation

Child exploitation is child abuse.

Any child from any background can be sexually exploited, regardless of their gender or sexuality or their social or ethnic background.

• Age is also not an indicator of risk – the children you work with are not too young.
• Offenders are highly manipulative: they can use violence and fear, blackmail or make the child feel guilty, worthless or that they’ve got no choice.
• Offenders can be any adults or children, male or female, and from any background.
• The offenders who do this are skilled at targeting and grooming young people.

If you have any concerns that a child or young person you know may be a victim of child sexual exploitation, help is available.

Any practitioner with concerns should speak to their Safeguarding Officer and follow their agency's safeguarding procedures.

View the Wales Safeguarding Procedures' Good Practice Guide on Child Sexual Exploitation. 

In March 2021, Welsh Government published statutory guidance to safeguard children from child sexual exploitation. This guidance can be viewed here.

‘Child sexual abuse prevention – It’s time we talked about it’

Welsh Government has published an action plan on tackling Child Sexual Abuse (CSA), including Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB).

Included in this National Plan are actions for Regional Safeguarding Board partners who have a lead role in the implementation of this Plan.

One action is the promotion of Stop It Now! Wales and its campaign - ‘Child sexual abuse prevention – It’s time we talked about it’.

Please help to support this campaign by promoting it on the communications channels available to you. The materials can be accessed below.