1. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 1

2. Learning Outcomes To understand the definition of Child Sexual Exploitation and associated risks. Identify indicators linked to Young People at risk of Sexual Exploitation and consider tools for intervention. Have awareness of the different routes into Sexual Exploitation and the need for a proactive approach in order to Safeguard Young People. Be aware of the policy and procedures in respect of Sexual Exploitation and the importance of working together to support Young People and prosecute offenders. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 2

3. Definition Sexual exploitation of children and young people under 18 involves exploitative situation, contexts and relationships where the young person (or third person/s) receive ‘ something’ (e.g. food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, gifts, money) as a result of them performing, and/or another or others performing on them, sexual activities. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 3

4. Definition continued 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.. Violence, coercion and intimidation are common, involvement in exploitative relationships being characterised in the main by the child or young person’s limited availability of choice resulting from their social/economic and/or emotional vulnerability. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 4

5. How many at risk? Rotherham: Conservative estimate is that approximately 1400 children were sexually exploited over the full Inquiry period, from 1997 to 2013. The OCC Inquiry identified 2049 victims of child sexual exploitation and 16,500 young people at risk. This included 533 cases of gang-associated child sexual exploitation (OCC 2012); One in ten young people being treated for drug and alcohol problems in three key Greater Manchester boroughs disclosed they have been sexually exploited. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 5

6. Serious Case Reviews Rotherham Oxford Rochdale Derby Additional Reports: Real Voices Unheard Voices Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 6

7. Effects of CSE on Young People It can lead to difficulties in forming healthy sexual relationships lack of confidence or self-esteem and can create feelings of worthlessness CSE can impact on physical and mental well-being, It can lead to acts of self-harm, including cutting themselves, overdosing and eating disorders. It can put the young person at increased risk of sexually transmitted infections including HIV, unwanted pregnancy and abortion, as well as long-term sexual and reproductive health problems. It can also ultimately impact on their parenting capacity in the future. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 7

8. Impact of CSE on Families “Parents and carers are often distraught, traumatised and under severe stress …..sexual exploitation of one child in the family places other siblings at significant risk of being groomed and exploited…… Parents, carers and siblings can themselves suffer serious threats of abuse, intimidation and assault at the hands of perpetrators.” Safeguarding Children and Young People from sexual exploitation. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 8

9. Principles of Child Protection Sexual exploitation incorporates sexual, physical and emotional abuse, and in some cases, neglect. Children do not make informed choices to enter or remain in sexual exploitation they do so because of coercion, enticement, manipulation or desperation. Sexually exploited children should be treated as victims of abuse, not as offenders. A child cannot consent to his or her own abuse. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 9

10. Rochdale The predominant response by staff in CSC was not to identify that the young people required safeguarding, but rather to focus on the problematic behaviour of the young people with limited evidence that practitioners analysed what was underneath the behaviour. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 10

11. Challenges for Professionals We have learnt that successful prosecutions require a completely new mindset and approach for all professionals working with young people. This is a national issue, as indicated by the new guidance from the Crown Prosecution Service launched in October 2013 Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 11

12. Many professionals told us that the victims of sexual exploitation were simply ‘making bad choices’ or ‘choosing to engage in risky behaviours’. A child cannot consent to his or her own abuse. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 12

13. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 13 Charity Victim Support's chief executive Javed Khan said: "It is utterly unacceptable that, instead of protecting these vulnerable young victims from sexual exploitation, the authorities judged, blamed and disbelieved them and their families and, in doing so, exposed these victims to further abuse”.

14. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 14 What signs might suggest a young person is being abused? Is this the same / different for boys? Is this the same / different when considering young people from black and ethnic minority groups?

15. Vulnerabilities “Sexually exploited young people do not always fit a specific profile and professionals should always keep an open mind to the possibility that a child may be at risk of exploitation” Safeguarding Children from Sexual Exploitation 2013 Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 15

16. Vulnerabilities cont. Living in chaotic / dysfunctional household History of abuse Recent bereavement or loss Gang association Attending school with others who are exploited Learning disabilities Unsure about their sexual orientation Friends with young people who are exploited Homeless Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 16

17. Vulnerabilities cont. Lacking friends from the same age group Living in a gang neighbourhood Living in residential care Living in a hostel / bed and breakfast Low self esteem or self confidence Young Carer Having been trafficked Running away from home or going missing Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 17

18. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 18 S S – Sexual Health A A – Absent from School F F – Familial Abuse E E - Emotional and Physical Condition G G – Gangs U U – Use of Technology & Sexual Bullying A A – Alcohol and Drug Misuse R R – Receipt of unexplained Gifts or money D D – Distrust of Authority Figures

19. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 19

20. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 20 Trafficked Online Opportunistic Familial Sexual Bullying Older ‘boyfriend’ Gangs & groups Child Sexual Exploitation

21. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 21

22. Grooming Process Young males may be groomed through ‘casual’ social relationships, introducing them to a ‘macho’ lifestyle. This may develop into criminal and other risky behaviours. Some perpetrators use women or young people to build the initial relationship with those they wish to exploit Perpetrators of CSE often use sophisticated means to sexually exploit young people. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 22

23. Coercion What marks these relationships is the element of coercion and manipulation that the young person themselves may not be aware of. professionals who are assessing the views of these children must be aware that perpetrators may have ‘groomed’ them and conditioned their responses and that they may be denying what has happened to them. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 23

24. Many sexually exploited children have difficulty distinguishing between their own choices around sex and sexuality, they do not recognise the coercive nature of the relationship and do not see themselves as victims of exploitation …the reality is their behaviour is not voluntary or consenting.. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 24

25. Derby Serious Case Review “In particular there was a failure to understand the impact of coercion by the abusers on their behaviour, and to assess their capacity to make informed choices about whether or not they were truly consenting to go with their abusers”. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 25

26. What is consent? Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 26 A London YOT has reported concerns about the number of young women who regard abusive behaviour from young men as a ‘normal’ part of adult relationships. Consent as defined in Sexual Offences Act 2003. ‘A person consents if she/he agrees by CHOICE and has the FREEDOM and CAPACITY to make that choice

27. Film

28. Identifying Perpetrators There is not one type of victim or offender of CSE. CSE can take many forms in many settings. If we look at just one model, such as group or gang CSE, we risk missing other victims who do not fall into that category. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 28

29. Identifying Perpetrators Perpetrators come from all ethnicities All communities All ages They are male and female No one group dominates CSE They are visible in everyday life They are often articulate and savvy Not all are involved in commercial exploitation. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 29

30. Barriers to working with young people at risk of CSE Blackmail including shame and dishonour Threats of violence Fear of not being believed Guilt Drug and alcohol dependency Emotional attachment Disability Not recognising they are victims Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 30

31. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 31 Explain these to 14 year olds? 1.Sexual exploitation 2.Grooming for sexual exploitation 3.Safety planning for sexual exploitation 4.Consent to have sex

32. Working with Young People Young People need to know and experience the persistence of someone who is genuinely concerned for them. To do so requires a flexible response that can meet with young people and their families on their terms. Pan – London CSE Operating Protocol Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 32

33. Working with young people Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 33 Crucial in understanding the impact on each child is their sense that they are not being exploited. Professionals must accept this, and start working from that point. Norma Howes 2014

34. Working with young people It is important to remember not to focus on what is being done to a child or what that is doing to a child but rather to identify the child’s needs that are not being met. It is these needs – that are being met through a child’s involvement in sexual exploitation – that will help to provide appropriate interventions and resources. With this in mind a more informed multi-agency service can be offered to children, their families and carers that is more likely to meet their unmet needs and enable withdrawal from unsafe, abusive relationships into those which are safe and nurturing Norma Howes 2014 Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 34

35. Working with Families Supporting victims and their families must be based upon a multi-disciplinary assessment of their circumstances. However, evidence has shown how important families are in helping young people in their recovery. Families also need help to deal with the impact of CSE and LSCB’s must ensure there is access to appropriate support. Pan-London CSE Operating Protocol Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 35

36. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 36

37. The Law Sexual Offences Act 2003 S 5 – Rape of child under 13 S7 – Sexual assault of child under 13 S8 – Causing or inciting child into sexual activity S9 – Sexual Activity with a child S10 – Causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity S11 – Engaging in sexual activity in presence of child S12 – Causing a child to watch sexual activity S14 – Arranging or facilitating a child sex offence (child under 16) S15 – Meeting a child following sexual grooming (child U16) S47 – Paying for sexual service of a child S48 – Causing or inciting child prostitution of pornography S49 – Controlling a child prostitute or a child involved in pornography S50 – Arranging or facilitating child prostitution or pornography S57,58,59 – trafficking offences re- CSE S2 Child Abduction Act 1984 (u 16's) Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 37

38. Links to other types of crimes Child Trafficking Domestic violence Sexual violence in intimate relationships Grooming – on and off line Abusive images of children and their distribution Organised sexual abuse Drugs related offences Gang related activity Immigration related offences Domestic servitude Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 38

39. London Safeguarding Procedures 6.2 The identification of a child or young person involved in sexual exploitation, or at risk of being drawn into sexual exploitation, should always trigger the agreed local safeguarding children procedures to ensure the child’s safety and welfare, and to enable the police to gather criminal evidence about the perpetrators. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 39

40. Concerns about a young person Where child sexual exploitation is suspected the worker should discuss their concerns with their manager and should also inform their agency’s lead professional who will be monitoring the bigger picture for any emerging patterns. Bexley Screening Tool Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 40

41. Screening Tool The screening tool will help you focus on the specific indicators of sexual exploitation and determine whether further investigations are needed. The tool could ber used in supervision, in discussions with parents and carers, with other professionals and with the child. Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 41

42. BEXLEY PROCEDURES Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 42 M.A.S.E M.A.S.H. Front Door Front Door

43. Take action!!! Identify Identify – act on the signs. Prevent Prevent – work proactively to educate. Support Support – forming positive and meaningful relationships with young people sop they have trust. Disrupt Disrupt – identifying situations and intervening to disrupt organised exploitation. Prosecute Prosecute – without information sharing offenders cannot be brought to justice Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 43

44. ….. please remember the many girls and women (as well as boys and men) from all ethnic and faith backgrounds caught in a cycle of sexual violence and who are suffering in silence. Unheard Voices Bexley Safeguarding Children Board 44