Child Sexual Abuse

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is a type of sexual abuse in which children are sexually exploited for money, power or status.

Children or young people may be tricked into believing they're in a loving, consensual relationship. They might be invited to parties and given drugs and alcohol. They may also be groomed online.  The abuser may physically or verbally threaten the young person or be violent towards them.  They will control and manipulate them and try to isolate them from friends and family.  It happens to boys and young men as well as girls and young women.  Abusers are very clever in the way they manipulate and take advantage of the young people they abuse. 

Some children and young people are trafficked into or within the UK for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

Know the Signs

Even something that seems like normal teenage behaviour could be a sign that a child is being exploited.
These can include:

• Increasing or secretive mobile phone or other device use 
• Excessive amount of time online and being secretive about time online 
• A significantly older ‘boyfriend’ or ‘friend’ or lots of new friends
• Change in behaviour – becoming secretive, argumentative, aggressive, disruptive, quiet, withdrawn 
• Having unexplained gifts or new possessions such as clothes, jewellery, mobile phones or having money or access to other goods such as alcohol that can’t be accounted for 
• Regularly missing from home or school, for unexplained periods of time and or staying out late or all night.

What can I do as a parent or carer?

It is important to discuss with children the differences between healthy and unhealthy relationships to help highlight potential risks to them.  There are also a number of practical steps you can take to protect your child:

• staying alert to changes in behaviour or any physical signs of abuse such as bruising.
• being aware of new, unexplained gifts or possessions such as clothes, jewellery, mobile phones or having money or access to other goods such as alcohol that can't be accounted for.
• carefully monitoring any episodes of staying out late or not returning home.
• exercising caution around older friends your child may have, or relationships with other young people where there appears to be a power imbalance.
• Making sure you understand the risks associated with your child being on-line and putting measures in place to minimise these risks.

Exploitation can be hard to recognise, it's important you spot the signs that it's happening.

Keep Them Safe - Free Online Resource

Keep them safe is a free online learning tool from Pace and Virtual College which has been accessed by more than 29,000 parents and professionals (as of March 2016).

Although the course is aimed at parents, safeguarding professionals will also find this 20-30 minute e-learning training course a valuable source of information to:

• find out more about child sexual exploitation
• learn the signs and indicators of when a child might be being exploited
• understand the impact child sexual exploitation can have on families
• know what to do if you suspect a child might be at risk of this abuse.
• View further information from 'Pace' - Parents against child exploitation 

SchoolBeat.Org is a bilingual site from the All Wales School Liaison CoreProgramme, providing information and resources for pupils, teachers, parents and partners to reinforce the key messages delivered by our School Community Police Officers in primary and secondary schools as well as alternative educational settings.

The site also has information about the themed lessons that the All Wales School Liaison Core Programme offers including for example ‘Griff’s Story’, a Year 6lesson designed to educate pupils about the issue of Child Sexual Abuse andExploitation. ‘Risky Pics’ is a secondary school lesson about the social andemotional consequences of sexting and discover what the law says. The site includes resources on healthy relationships.

Information on unsafe relationships for parents 

'Talk Pants'

The NSPCC's 'Talk Pants' campaign helps children understand that their body belongs to them, and they should tell someone they trust if anything makes them feel upset or worried. 

Select this link to view and download information on this campaign, including guides for parents and guides for children. 

Keeping Children Safe in Sports

The NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) has produced a Keeping Children Safe in Sports - A Parent's Charter which provides advice on how parents can checkthat their child is attending a sporting activity which has safeguarding measures in place.

Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme

The Home Office has produced information on the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme which includes information for parents and for practitioners on the scheme which lets those who care for young people find out if a person has a record for child sexual offences.