Sexual exploitation and grooming are both forms of sexual abuse.
Sexual exploitation is when a young person is given money, gifts, affection and other things in exchange for sexual activity with one or more people.
Grooming is a phased or gradual process which can eventually lead to sexual exploitation. It can start with befriending and lead to exploitation. Individuals and gangs understand that a child who is isolated from their parents or alienated from their peers is much more vulnerable to their approaches. They know the greatest gift they can give a child in such circumstances is actually friendship; the feeling of belonging.
It is really important to understand the context of a child’s life. Whether they are going through a tough time, at home or at school, suffering neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse and whether they are isolated or alienated from friends. This level of understanding will help you make judgements about their potential vulnerability and how best to engage with them or intervene in an inappropriate relationship.
Understanding Sexual Abuse
Child Sexual abuse is when a young person is forced, tricked or pressurised into any sexual activity with someone else including other young people.
The facts according to the NSPCC, 2019:
- 1 in 20 children in the UK have been sexually abused.
- Girls and olderchildren are more likely to experience sexual abuse.
- 90% of children who are sexually abused know the abuser.
- Around a third of child sexual abuse is by other children and young people.
Young people don’t always understand or recognise sexual abuse and may be scared or embarrassed to tell someone. They might think they are in a consensual relationship; in some cases, they may trust or love their abuser and not recognise that they are being abused.
Sexual abuse can both happen online and offline.
Sexual abuse is often thought to be physical, but this isn’t always the case
It can include physical contact and non-physical contact such as:
Physical contact:
- Touching, kissing, undressing or rubbing with clothes on or off.
- Using objects or body parts to rape or penetrate someone.
- Making someone take part in any sexual activity including touching themselves and others.
Non-physical contact:
- Being forced to watch or is shown pornography.
- Being forced or bribed to make and/or share child abuse images/videos of themselves or others.
- Forcing someone to sext or take part in sexualised conversations.
- Deliberately exposing someone to sexualised acts including, exposing or flashing.
- Being allowed to watch/listen to sexual activities between adults or other young people.
Understanding the signs of Sexual Exploitation and Grooming
- A young person is secretive about going out or who they spend time with.
- Having unexplained gifts, clothes, electronic devices, and wealth.
- Engaging in criminal behaviour incl. selling drugs and stealing.
- Request for privacy, and spending time in the bathroom/bedroom with electronic devices.
- A change in friendship groups, attitude, behaviours and usual habits.
- Untraceable when they are outside the home, going missing or coming home late.
- Appearing tired, withdrawn or have marks on their body.
- Spending time with groups or older people.
Understanding the signs of sexual abuse
- Unusually withdrawn, fearful, worried or anxious presentation.
- Being frightened of people or a person they know.
- Using language or sexual behaviours beyond their years.
- Self-harm and other negative coping mechanisms incl. the use of alcohol and other drugs.
- Unexplained bruising, marking, bleeding or pains in genitals and/or anus.
- Pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.