Child Exploitation – Information for Parents and carers
Tackling child exploitation is a top priority for the Wirral Safeguarding Children Partnership.
A number of high profile cases have highlighted the need for vigilance from all of us, and not just those in statutory safeguarding services. We all need to be more aware of the signs of child exploitation (CE) and identify children and young people who are at risk.
Child Exploitation, or CE is a term which encompasses all the ways by which children and young people can be exploited. It includes Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and also criminal exploitation. The criminal exploitation of children is an issue which is gaining more of a national focus and is closely related to County Lines, and other ways children and young people are drawn into drugs related criminal activity.
Child Sexual Exploitation, or CSE is a form of child sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.
Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE). Child Criminal Exploitation is common in county lines and occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18. The victim may have been criminally exploited even if the activity appears consensual. Child Criminal Exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology. There is also a form of exploitation called Cuckooing where criminals take over someone’s home to use it as a base for illegal activities such as drug dealing, county lines or facilitating other crimes. Victims are often left with little choice but to cooperate.
Awareness Raising Information for Child Exploitation
Who to Contact
If you have concerns about Child Sexual Exploitation you can contact the police or children’s services email [email protected] (0151 606 2008 or 0151 677 6557 out of hours) for advice. Merseyside police can be contacted on 101. In an emergency always dial 999.
Resources for parents and carers
Barnardo’s have published a spotting the signs leaflet for parents which can be downloaded below:
Catch22, who are commissioned to deliver the CE and Missing service in Wirral have also published guidance for parents and carers:
Catch22-CSE-leaflet-parents-carers
Details of Catch22’s service can be found on their website here:
Pan Merseyside Child Exploitation Service – Catch22 (catch-22.org.uk)
The NWG Network is a charitable organisation formed as a UK network of over 20,000 practitioners working on the issue of child exploitation (CE) and trafficking within the UK. They have lots of useful guidance for parents on their website via the link here and below is a leaflet for parents published by the National Working group for CE:
A Parent’s Guide to Coping with CSE
A-Parents-Guide-to-Dealing-with-Sexting
NWG Online Onguard Leaflet for Parents
The-complete-guide-to-Snapchat-the-dangers-and-impact-
Access to Free e-Learning
Ivison Trust (formerly PACE – Parents Against Sexual Exploitation), is a charity who primarily work with parents whose children are victims of, or at risk of being sexually exploited. Ivison Trust also provides information, support and training for professionals. Ivison Trust have developed a free to access e-learning module about Child Sexual Exploitation which is useful for parents, professionals and members of the wider community to understand Child Sexual Exploitation and become more aware of the signs.
There is lots of useful information for parents and carers on their website and The Keep Them Safe e-learning and further information from Ivison Trust can be accessed by following the link below:
https://ivisontrust.org.uk/training/online-learning/