What to do if you’re worried about
Sexual Exploitation.
Tell someone you trust. This might be a parent, friend or teacher.
It might also be another professional you have a good relationship
with.
You can also contact services yourself.
During office hours ( 8:45 am to 5:20 pm Monday to Thursday, 8:45 am
to 4:20 pm Friday ) you can contact your local Social Care Children's
Teams directly:
Children and Families - Social Care Teams:
Bedford Borough Council - 01234 223599
Central Bedfordshire Council - 0300 300 4749/4750
If you urgently need help outside office hours you can contact Bedfordshire Social Care on 0870 2385465/ 0300 300 8123
A referral to SERAC (Sexual Exploitation Risk Assessment Conference)
can be made via the Bedfordshire LSCB website.
Bedfordshire Police Child Abuse Investigation Unit - 01234 846960
NSPCC 0808 800 5000
This leaflet was produced by;
Useful websites
www.cropuk.org.uk
(for family and carers)
www.ceop.gov.uk
(online grooming)
www.ukhtc.org
(United Kingdom Human
Trafficking Centre)
Plan B
Young Peoples Drug and Alcohol Service
22 Grove Place, Bedford MK40 3JJ
Tel: 01234 344911
Fax: 01234 344093
Email: [email protected]
www.can.org.uk
Registered charity NO. 1025395 Company no. 2836340
Sexual Exploitation
How to stay safe and in control
Part 1: Information for young people
Part 2: Information for parents, carers and professionals
PLAN
PLANBB
PART
INFORMATION
FOR YOUNG
PEOPLE
PART
2:1:
INFORMATION
FOR PARENTS,
CARERS
AND PROFESSIONALS
What is Sexual Exploitation?
Warning Signs For Identifying Possible Exploitation
Sex is a normal part of growing up. You might think that a lot of
your 13-16 year old peers are sexually active but in reality most
people in the UK wait till they are 17 before losing their virginity.
Sexual Exploitation is not normal and a form of abuse. It can be
physical, where you may be encouraged or forced in to performing
sexual activities such as touching, oral sex and penetration, or non
-physical, such as being asked to send pictures or make videos
either by yourself or with other young people, or watch other
people do the same.
You might not know that this is abuse and you are being exploited.
You might think that you’re in a good relationship with the person,
or people. It might seem normal to send explicit pictures and
videos to boyfriends or girlfriends, however, think carefully about
how comfortable you are about doing this and how you would feel
if these images were made public.
Sexual exploitation might be just one person who has physical,
emotional and financial power over you, or it might be your
boyfriend or girlfriend or an organised gang who are taking you
places and encouraging you or forcing you to have sex with
multiple people.
The Law is here to protect you.
It states that it is illegal to;

Touch or have sex with anyone under the age of 16,
even with their consent.

Encourage a child under 16 to engage in a sex act

Sexually groom and meet a child for sex

Cause or encourage prostitution

Make child pornography

Cause or encourage a child to watch a sex act

To engage in a sex act in the presence of a child under
16.
Abuse Model 1
Abuse Model 2
Abuse Model 3
Inappropriate
relationships
Boyfriend/girlfriend
Organised
exploitation and
trafficking
Usually involves just
one abuser who has
physical, emotional and
financial power over
the young person
Abuser grooms child
by striking up a
normal relationship.
Child may then have
to attend parties and
sleep with multiple
people.
Criminal network of
gangs who traffic
children between
towns and cities for
sex. Might use child
to recruit next victim.
PLAN
PLANBB
PART
INFORMATION
FOR YOUNG
PEOPLE
PART
2:1:
INFORMATION
FOR PARENTS,
CARERS
AND PROFESSIONALS
What is Sexual Exploitation?
Grooming… What is it?
Sexual exploitation is a form of abuse that affects thousands of
young people every year in the UK.
Grooming is used to describe the process abusive adults use to
trick young people in to believing they are trust worthy so that they
can exploit them. This can be online, on the phone or face to face.
Sometimes your initial introduction might be through other young
people who have been groomed themselves, or it might be your
girlfriend, boyfriend, family member or family friend.
It can be physical, where the young person is encouraged or
forced in to performing sexual activities such as touching, oral sex
and penetration, or non-physical where they are asked to send
pictures or make videos either by themselves or with other young
people.
The child may not know they are being abused and exploited.
They might think they are in good relationship with the person, or
people. It might seem normal for young people to send explicit
pictures and videos to boyfriends or girlfriends, however, the
possession and distribution of any explicit material of under 16’s is
illegal.
Many victims of exploitation have been groomed by an adult who
will befriend them and make them feel special to gain their trust
before sexually exploiting them.
On the page opposite it
describes 3 models of abuse; by an individual, by multiple people
and by criminal gangs.
The rise of the internet, ownership of mobile phones, and the use
of social networking sites has increased the risk of children being
targeted and exploited. Parents and carers are encouraged to use
the CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) site to be
better informed at keeping children safe online.
Children who are having difficulties, are truanting or excluded from
school, and those who are missing from care may be vulnerable to
exploitation. On the next page there are signs to look out for to
identify possible abuse. Remember, some of the signs are part of
being a normal teenager however if a number of these signs are
present, the child may be at risk and a referral to children’s
services is advised.
Often they will target vulnerable children. You might be unhappy
in school or at home. You might be being bullied and just want
someone to look out for you. You might be looking for love and
affection from an adult because you feel that no one is there for
you.
Groomers use clever techniques to take advantage of your
relationship; they might tell you lots of personal things about
themselves so you trust them; they might give you money; buy
you drugs or drink; or give you a place to hang out or stay when
you don't want to go home. In return they might ask you to have
sex with them or do something sexual to them. They might touch
you inappropriately, make you look at sexual images, or
watch them do something sexual to themselves.
Over the page is a diagram showing you the different
stages of grooming.
Remember, Sexual Exploitation is not the same as having sex with
someone you care about. You might find that you are going
missing from home a lot, missing school, using drugs and alcohol,
falling out with family and friends. As a result you might start
feeling low or even self harming. You might feel confused because
you really love or care about the person who is exploiting you and
you want to keep them happy so you can carry on with the
relationship.
If you feel like this is happening to you, tell someone you trust
immediately. On the back of this leaflet are contact details for
services that will help you.
4. Abusive relationship stage
1. Targeting stage
Observing
Watching you without you even
realising. It might be over a short
or long period.
2. Friendship forming
Making you feel special
They might give you lots of compliments
and pay special attention to what you like
and what you wear.
Giving you gifts and rewards
Selecting
You are more likely to be targeted
if they think you are vulnerable –
you might be on your own, look
unhappy, not be in school. You
might be looking for attention and
affection. Sometimes it might just
be a picture on Facebook or BBM.
They might give you mobile phones,
jewellery, drugs, alcohol, money and
clothes.
Spending lots of time with you and
being there for you
This might feel nice but it makes you miss
them a lot and isolates you from your
family and friends.
Initiating contact and gaining
trust
Understanding you better than anyone
else
This might be just saying “hi” in the
streets or it might be on a social
networking site or on your phone.
They might lie about themselves
and their age to get your trust.
They might bad mouth parents and
carers so that you think that they’re the
only ones who care for you.
Keeping your friendship secret
Testing out physical contact
Sharing information
Sometimes these adults might
work alone but other times with
associates. You might start being
contacted by other people
They might “accidentally” touch you to
see how you react.
3. Loving relationship Stage
Withdrawing friendship and love
They might ask you to be their
boyfriend or girlfriend
Using you for sex
Reinforcing dependency
You might
relationship
start
a
sexual
It might start with showing private
parts, touching and oral sex. They
might then teach you how to have
sex. Online it might be via private
chat rooms or webcam.
Lowering self esteem by calling you
“damaged goods” and that no one
else would ever want you, maybe
because of things you’ve told them
in the past or because they have
made you do humiliating things.
Isolating from family and friends
Lowering inhibitions
They might Show you sexual
images of adults and children to
make you feel like it’s normal
This ensures that family and friends
don't know the extent of what’s
going on.
Tricking and manipulating
Involvement
activities
in
inappropriate
Offer you drugs and alcohol, entry
to clubs, pubs and parties. This
might seem exciting but you might
not be able to tell anyone if anything
goes wrong which encourages and
normalises keeping secrets from
people.
You may feel you owe them for the
gifts they have given you. They
might say payment is due in the
form of sex or another illegal activity.
You may fear they will tell your
parents, carers or friends about
things you have done.
Offering you Protection
Mental and Physical abuse
They might give you a place to stay when
you’re having problems at home or being
bullied.
They might use threats of, or real
violence to keep you frightened and
in their control. This might get more
serious over time.