Child Exploitation

What is child exploitation?

Child exploitation (CE) involves a child or young person being manipulated or forced into a certain kind of activity by someone who holds power over them. The activities may include moving or selling drugs, concealing weapons, or engaging in sexual activity. Victims may be forced to comply through threats of violence, by being manipulated by someone they believe loves them, or by being told that the activity is necessary to settle a debt engineered by the perpetrator. Perpetrators can be individuals, criminal gangs, or other organised criminal groups. When criminal groups move drugs or weapons between areas, often exploiting young people to do so, this is known as County Lines.

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type of sexual abuse. When a child or young person is exploited they’re given things, like gifts, drugs, money, status and affection, in exchange for performing sexual activities. Children and young people are often tricked into believing they’re in a loving and consensual relationship. This is called grooming. They may trust their abuser and not understand that they’re being abused.

Children and young people can be trafficked into or within the UK to be sexually or criminally exploited. They’re moved around the country and made to deliver or sell drugs or weapons, or are abused by being forced to take part in sexual activities, often with more than one person. Young people in gangs can also be sexually exploited.

Sometimes abusers use violence and intimidation to frighten or force a child or young person, making them feel as if they’ve no choice but to comply. They may threaten the child’s family or friends, lend them large sums of money they know can’t be repaid, or use financial abuse to control them.

Anybody can be a perpetrator of CE, no matter their age, gender, class, or race. In the same way, any young person can be a victim; stereotypes are unhelpful when identifying and tackling CE, and it’s important to approach each concern using only the known facts. The relationship could be framed as friendship, someone to look up to, or romantic. Children and young people who are exploited may also be used to ‘find’ or coerce others to join groups.

Types of child exploitation

CSE can happen in person or online. An abuser will gain a child’s trust or control them through violence or blackmail before moving onto abusing or exploiting them. This can happen in a short period of time.

When a child is being criminally exploited they might be persuaded or forced to:

transport drugs or weapons to a different areas, where they are sold or delivered to a contact

‘recruit’ or supervise other young people within a gang structure

use physical or sexual violence to control an area or situation, or be a victim of this.

When a child is sexually exploited online they might be persuaded or forced to:

send or post sexually explicit images of themselves

film or stream sexual activities

have sexual conversations.

Once an abuser has images, video or copies of conversations, they might use threats and blackmail to force a young person to take part in other sexual activity. They may also share the images and videos with others or circulate them online.

Gangs use sexual exploitation:

to exert power and control

to use sexual violence as a weapon

for initiation

Children or young people might be invited to parties or gatherings with others their own age or adults and given drugs and alcohol. They may be assaulted and sexually abused by one person or multiple perpetrators. The sexual assaults and abuse can be violent, humiliating and degrading.

Signs of child sexual exploitation

Sexual exploitation can be difficult to spot and sometimes mistaken for “normal” teenage behaviour. Knowing the signs can help protect children and help them when they’ve no one else to turn to:

Having an older boyfriend or girlfriend

Staying out late or overnight

Having a new group of friends

Missing from home or care, or stopping going to school or college

Hanging out with older people, other vulnerable people or in antisocial groups

Involved in a gang

Involved in criminal activities like selling drugs or shoplifting

They may not know where they are, because they’ve been moved around the country, and seem frightened, confused or angry.

A child might know they’re being sexually or criminally exploited. They might be worried or confused and less likely to speak to an adult they trust. They may be afraid to speak out or try to change their situation, fearing reprisals if they confide in someone. They may fear being arrested and charged in relation to the things they’ve been made to do; within a gang structure, a young person may be manipulated into acting as a perpetrator of exploitation while still remaining a victim.

If a child reveals abuse

If a child talks to you about exploitation it’s important to:

listen carefully to what they’re saying

let them know they’ve done the right thing by telling you

tell them it’s not their fault

say you’ll take them seriously

don’t confront the alleged abuser

explain what you’ll do next

report what the child has told you as soon as possible

not make any promises around privacy or the next steps to be taken

Effects of child exploitation

Both exploitation in person and online can have long-term effects on a child or young person. They may:

struggle with trust and be fearful of forming new relationships

become isolated from family and friends

fail exams or drop out of education

become pregnant at a young age

experience unemployment

have mental health problems

make suicide attempts

abuse alcohol and drugs

take part in criminal behaviour

experience homelessness

Key Documents

SET Sexual Violence and Abuse Strategy 2020-2023

Time to Listen: a joined up response to child sexual exploitation and missing children

Child Sexual Exploitation: Definition and a guide for practitioners, local leaders and decision makers working to protect children from child sexual exploitation, Department for Education (2017).

Short film by Fiona Factor, University of Bedfordshire explains what young people affected by sexual exploitation have said they want from practitioners who work with them.

Signs and Indicators: A template for identifying and recording concerns of child sexual abuse – CSA Centre.

The NWG Network – https://www.nwgnetwork.org

Lucy Faithfull Foundation – https://www.lucyfaithfull.org.uk

NSPCC – Criminal Exploitation & Gangs – www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/gangs-criminal-exploitation

Child exploitation disruption toolkit – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

County lines: posters for private security industry staff

County lines: posters for taxi and private vehicle hire staff

County lines: posters for train and rail operator staff

County lines: posters for bus and coach company staff