1. Sus-Sex B Safe Child Sexual Exploitation West Sussex Natasha Fletcher

2. Covering: What is Child Sexual Exploitation? Our Challenges The Grooming Process Indicators and Vulnerability Factors for Child Sexual Exploitation

3. What is Child Sexual Exploitation? Sexual exploitation of children and young people under 18 involves exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where the young person or a third person/persons receive “something” (e.g. food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, etc) as a result of them performing, and/or another or others performing on them, sexual activities. Child sexual exploitation can occur through the use of technology without the child's immediate recognition; for example being persuaded to post sexual images on the internet/mobile phones without immediate payment or gain. In all cases, those exploiting the child/young person have power over them by virtue of their age, gender, intellect, physical strength and/or economic or other resources. Violence, coercion and intimidation are common, involvement in exploitative relationships, characterised in the main by the child or young person's limited availability of choice resulting from their social/economic and /or emotional vulnerability. (National Working Group 2009)

4. What are we actually saying… Sexual exploitation victims are male and female. Perpetrators are male and female, of any age or race. Perpetrators can be anyone. Do you know a victim......?

5. Barnardo’s Models of Sexual Exploitation: Inappropriate Relationships: Usually involving one perpetrator who has inappropriate power or control over a young person (physical, emotional or financial). One indicator may be a significant age gap. The young person may believe they are in a loving relationship.

6. ‘Boyfriend’ model of exploitation and peer Exploitation: The perpetrator befriends and grooms a young person into a ‘relationship’ and then coerces or forces them to have sex with friends or associates. Barnardo’s has reported a rise in peer exploitation where young people are forced or coerced into sexual activity by peers and associates. Sometimes this can be associated with gang activity but not always.

7. Organised/networked sexual exploitation or trafficking: Young people (often connected) are passed through networks, possibly over geographical distances, between towns and cities where they may be forced /coerced into sexual activity with multiple men. Often this occurs at ‘sex parties’, and young people who are involved may be used as agents to recruit others into the network. Some of this activity is described as serious organised crime and can involve the organised ‘buying and selling’ of young people by perpetrators.

8. Our Challenges “They have chosen the lifestyle” “They are beyond help” “They are being paid” “He’s her boyfriend” “She’s old enough to decide” “She doesn’t see anything wrong with it, she says she’s happy” “They won’t engage” “She’s promiscuous”

9. Social Challenges The grooming process creates what we call a “willing victim” meaning that the young people often do not realise or accept that they are being sexually exploited. These young people often have little positive experience of adult support and many are disengaged from all services. They are mistrustful of adults, professionals, even others their age. There are also issues around consent. Young people can have the perception consensual sex doesn’t require a yes. Turning up to a party can mean your fair game…

10. The Grooming Process Grooming: Used to describe the process that perpetrators use to trick a child or young person into believing they are trustworthy, eventually leading to sexually exploiting our victim. The Grooming Line is based on Barnardo’s vast experience from working with Children and young people who have been victims of sexual exploitation. Being aware of the whole pattern of behaviours is key in being aware of suspicious behaviours.

11. Vulnerability Factors ABUSE NEGLECT DEPRIVATION NOT IN SCHOOL FAMILY BREAKDOWN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BULLYING IN OR OUT OF SCHOOL LOOKED AFTER HOMELESSNESS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

12. Risk Indicators… Non/poor school attendance Staying out late Anti-social behaviour Inappropriate use of internet Older/controlling ‘boyfriends/girlfriends’ Unexplained acquisitions Isolated from family and friends Bereavement & loss Going missing Association with risky adults Depression, self- harm/eating disorders/ low self esteem Alcohol/substance misuse Physical injuries STIs Pregnancy Attempted suicide

13. CSE and Technology Technology is constantly changing with new applications and programmes being developed daily. Our young people are creative and not afraid to try new and evolving technologies- neither can you. It can’t be about not allowing our young people to use technology but being aware of and knowing the risks: -Grooming -Abuse by perpetrators -Meeting with unknown people -Cyberbullying -Hacking -Identity theft -Exposure to inappropriate images and information e.g. pornography/self-harming

14. Webcam: video/pictures/sound. Recorded and sent anywhere in the world. Social Networking: Facebook/Tagged etc. Open accounts means anyone can look at your profile. Make friends with people you don’t know. Friends of friends. Online Gaming: Profiles are made, chatting with other players. Games on social networking sites, think you know people. CSE and Technology Sexting: Explicit text speak/images/video being sent. Forwarded by others. IM: Instant Messaging. Used in places like chat rooms, social networking, games. Applications on BlackBerry phones (BBM) and Apps- messages sent like a free text. Chat Rooms: Joining sites you think others have a common interest/issue/problem. Fake profiles made.

15. Child Protection A child protection concern as defined by Section 47 of the Children’s Act 1989 is where a child is considered to be at risk of ‘significant harm’ It is important to remember that a child is a child until they reach 18 years of age Children’s Act 1989

16. It’s NOT a choice! It’s NOT legal! Consent does not make an unlawful act lawful Young people being sexually exploited are often victims of serious crimes. The sexual offences act categorise these offences and their maximum penalty. These laws can be used successfully by police to secure a prosecution against people who abuse children in this way. Children and young people cannot consent to their own abuse All children have the right to be safe from abuse

17. 4 Categories of Abuse PHYSICAL: Young people being punched, kicked, hit with a baseball bat and being threatened. EMOTIONAL: Young people being made to feel worthless, unloved, told they have no value, told they deserve what’s happening to them and that it’s their fault. Fear of consequences and reprisals. SEXUAL: Young people being raped, gang raped, sexually assaulted, shown pornographic material and forced and coerced into selling sex. NEGLECT: Young people being denied access to food, water, toilet facilities. Young people not having an education or housing.

18. Serious Case Reviews Key finding from Derby’s Serious Case Review-July 2010: -Little evidence of agencies working together to co-ordinate actions and create a comprehensive picture. Multi-agency working needs to be key to ensure CSE is recognised and tackled appropriately. -Statutory agencies on the whole did not recognise, or understand, the signs and symptoms of the abuse being suffered and how to respond. -YP1 and YP2 were dealt with as offenders, rather than as victims of abuse. -Staff in all agencies need to be better trained and equipped to deal with CSE. -Roles and responsibilities of all agencies involved in CSE must be clearly set out and understood. -A shared understanding of the grooming process and its impact on young people is fundamental. Patience, empathy and perseverance are needed by staff to establish successful engagement with young people.

19. The multi-agency way forward  Prevention and early intervention are vital when indications of risk are first identified  Using the legislation in a proactive way-but if we cannot prosecute we can at least disrupt  Stop blaming the young people and focus on what is wrong with adults who want to have sex with children  Confront and challenge attitudes and values that confirm some young people are worthless  It is critical that accessible and acceptable services work alongside these children in some very risky and distressing situations  A pro active approach to identify sexual exploitation and the development of detailed protocols are essential to effective intervention

20. Information Sharing: Recording small pieces of information, although apparently insignificant on their own is crucial to the development of a prosecution case. This can include details about: - young person’s behaviour - running away/missing episodes - Behaviour upon return/returning distressed - Disclosures made during missing episode or any other activities/statements that could indicate that a young person is at risk of exploitation. It can also include any information on the alleged abuser. But it is important that the information is not only recognised as important but recorded properly. Gathering Evidence Sharing information with the police to ensure up to date information is being reported enabling police investigations to be conducted. Accurate recording- Essential! Identifying and Disrupting ‘We can’t talk about disruption and prosecution without talking about multi-agency work’

22. Referral Guidance Priority will be given to young people who are Children in Need, (sect 17) and are living at home; those with repeated missing episodes; those young people who go missing and involve younger children in these missing episodes; West Sussex Looked After Children. Referral Criteria: Examples of Lower Level Indicators: -Regularly coming home late, sexualised risk taking, experiment with drugs/alcohol Examples of Medium Level Indicators: -Being groomed on the internet, older partner, multiple STIs, self-harming Examples of High Level Indicators: - Child under 13yrs engaging in any sexual activity, abduction and forced imprisonment, disclosures of serious sexual assault then withdrawing statement

23. As a practitioner you must be mindful of… Your reactions and body language - you will be listening to details of rape and abuse – it is very important that you do not make a young person feel Judged Be confident when you are talking about any subject You will need to be comfortable talking about sex, drugs, physical and emotional abuse You must work in a multiagency way – sharing information – do you have vital piece to the puzzle Working in holistic way will help you identify what needs the young person has – make links with other services that are specialized in those areas – ask for them to consult on the case OR seek permission to refer the young person to their service What are your safeguarding responsibilities? Know your legal and organizational responsibilities Be aware of the connections between CSE and DV – linking with local services

24. Contact Details Barnardo's South East Sus-Sex B Safe Sussex Child Exploitation Service, Unit 1 Satellite Business Village, Fleming Way, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9NE 01293 610691 Key Workers: Natasha Fletcher- 07770444402 natasha.fletcher@barnardos.org.uknatasha.fletcher@barnardos.org.uk Nansi Maclean- 07770441935 nansi.maclean@barnardos.org.uknansi.maclean@barnardos.org.uk Sarah Kreffer- Locality Children Services Manager- Sussex sarah.kreffer@barnardos.org.uksarah.kreffer@barnardos.org.uk 07786 690001