Child sexual exploitation

Signs to look out for

• Missing from home or care
• Absent from school
• Living in a chaotic or dysfunctional household
• History of abuse
• Gang Association
• Receipt of gifts from unknown sources
• Drug/alcohol misuse
• Repeat sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy and terminations
• Physical injuries
• Evidence of sexual bullying and/or vulnerability through the internet and/or social networking sites
• Poor mental health/self-harm/thoughts of or attempts at suicide
• Involvement in offending
• Getting others involved in exploitative situations

Typical vulnerabilities in children prior to abuse

• Living in a chaotic or dysfunctional household
• History of abuse
• Recent bereavement or loss
• Gang association either through their relatives, peers or intimate relationships
• Attending school with young people who are sexually exploited
• Learning disabilities
• Unsure about their sexual orientation or unable to disclose sexual orientation to their families
• Friends with young people who are sexually exploited
• Homeless
• Lacking friends from the same age group
• Living in a ‘gang’ neighbourhood
• Living in residential care
• Living in a hostel, bed and breakfast accommodation or a foyer
• Low self-esteem or self confidence
• Young carer

Signs and behaviours being seen in children who are already being exploited

• Missing from home or care
• Physical injuries
• Drug or alcohol misuse
• Involvement in offending
• Repeat sexually-transmitted infections, pregnancy or terminations
• Absent from school
• Evidence of sexual bullying and/or vulnerability through the internet and/or social networking sites
• Estranged from their family
• Receipt of gifts from unknown sources
• Getting others involved in exploitative situations
• Poor mental health
• Self-harm
• Thoughts of or attempts at suicide