Child sexual exploitation

Say Something if you See Something is the campaign that aims to raise awareness within Hertfordshire of the issues of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and human trafficking. Whilst Hertfordshire remains one of the safest counties in the country, tackling CSE is a government priority and in Hertfordshire we are looking to engage with all communities to help prevent children becoming victim of these crimes.

The campaign is being driven under HALO, the proactive multi-agency response within Hertfordshire to tackle CSE in the county.

What is CSE?

CSE is when young people under the age of 18 are encouraged/forced into a sexual relationship or situation by an adult. It often involves young people being offered something in return for performing sexual acts, for example:

• alcohol
• cigarettes
• mobile Phones
• gifts
• money
• drugs
• love

Where does it happen?

Young people can be groomed and sexually exploited at a variety of premises and locations, such as:

• online
• parks
• shopping centres
• taxi ranks
• restaurants
• takeaways
• gyms
• leisure centres
• hotels
• hostels
• pubs/bars/clubs
• anywhere children and adults do not know how to report their concerns

Trafficking

Children and young people who are victims of sexual exploitation are also vulnerable to trafficking across cities and counties within the UK, and also international trafficking into and out of the UK for the purposes of sexual exploitation. Trafficking involves the illegal trade in human beings for the purposes of sexual exploitation.

The recognition of trafficking within the UK applies irrespective of distance travelled, and hence can be applied to movements within the same city.

Section 59A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (SOA) specifies that trafficking within the UK for the purposes of sexual exploitation is an offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.