Child Sexual Exploitation and Runaways | Barnsley Safeguarding Children Board

Article: Child Sexual Exploitation and Runaways

Child sexual exploitation affects thousands of children and young people across the UK every year.

The Government definition states that "Sexual exploitation of children and young people under 18 involves exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where young people (or a third person or persons) 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. 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 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"

NEW

The Barnsley Child Sexual Exploitation Strategy has been approved by the Safeguarding Children Board.  The Action Plan is regularly monitored and updated by the Barnsley Child Sexual Exploitation and Runaways Forum.  The latest version is available here.

A new Intelligence Gathering form is now available here.  Anyone with information about a suspected perpetrator or a child or young person thought to be at risk should complete and return this form to the police as shown on the form.

The legislation covering sexual offences is set out in this leaflet on the Sexual Offences Act 2003

Many victims of child sexual exploitation and abuse don't feel that they can talk about it or ask for help - so adults have to!

If you're a young person it can be difficult to spot the warning signs as you believe you're in a positive relationship with someone. Parents and carers have an  important role to play in protecting their children from exploitation.  This leaflet offers advice

Help is available

• If it's an emergency ring 999
• If you have concerns regarding children in Barnsley 01226 438831 or 772423 or Childline on 0800 1111.
• If you would like to share information which might help protect a child you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously, or the Police on 101.

The Office of the Children's Commissioner

The Children's Commissioner has published a number of reports over its two-year qualitative study and Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups (CSEGG). These publications, produced during the course of the Inquiry, are now available to download.

Phase 1

• Accelerated report on the emerging findings of the OCC's Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups, with a special focus on children in care
• Child Sexual Expolitation Inquiry interim report - I thought I was the only one. The only one in the world
• University of Bedfordshire report for the OCC - Research into gang-associated sexual exploitation and sexual violence - Interim findings
• Basically... Porn is everywhere - A Rapid Evidence Assessment of the effects that access and exposure to pornography have on children and young people

Phase 2

• "Sex without consent, I suppose that is rape": How young people in England understand sexual consent
• If only someone had listened: Office of the Children's Commissioner's Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups Final Report
• "It's wrong... but you get used to it" A qualitative study of gang-associated sexual violence towards, and exploitation of, young people in England
• "It takes a lot to build trust" - Recognition and telling - developing earlier routes to help for children and young people
• Four films made by young people for their peers, professionals and policy makers to support It's wrong...but you get used to it are available to view here.

Parentsprotect  is a website that helps parents and carers better protect children from sexual abuse. The site gives you access to information and resources and answers any questions you might have related to child sexual abuse.

The internet and children - what's the problem?, produced by 'Stop it Now' UK and Ireland, provides guidance on how to keep children safe from sexual abuse and exploitation online.

The 2012/13 Threat Assessment on Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse published by CEOP provides an up to date picture of the nature and scale of current offending and highlights emerging and developing trends insofar as they are a threat in or emanating from the UK.

The European Online Grooming Project Final report describes the behaviour of both offenders who groom and young people who are 'groomed', describes how information and communication technology may facilitate online grooming, identifies how young people are selected and prepared by online groomers for abuse online and aims to contribute to the development of prevention initiatives aimed at parents and young people.

In response to the Barnardo's Report  "Puppet on a String", the Department for Education has published an Action Plan for Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation

Barnardo's have subsequently published an analysis of the national progress being made on protecting children from Sexual exploitation - "Cutting them Free"

The NSPCC has published a number of briefings to highlight the learning from case reviews into the death or serious injury of a child where particular risk factors were a feature.  This briefing identifes those cases where child sexual exploitation was a key factor.  It is based on case reviews published since 2010 where the reviews were sufficiently detailed to be useful for identifying and sharing learning points although it is clear from these reviews that child sexual exploitation can be particularly hard for professionals to recognise and respond to.

The Department of Health has published a report on Improving the outcomes for children by promoting effective engagement of health services and staff

Barnsley Child Sexual Exploitation and Runaways Forum

The Barnsley Child Sexual Exploitation and Runaways Forum addresses individual cases of concern about young people who are thought to be vulnerable to such exploitation.

Terms of Reference and the procedure for accessing the Forum are available here:

• Child Sexual Exploitation and Runaways Forum Terms of Reference
• Procedure for accessing the Child Sexual Exploitation and Runaways Forum

Links with running away

A significant risk factor for young people is the correlation between running away or being reported missing from home or from care.  The Department for Education has published some useful guidance in 2014:

• Revised statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care  with associated flowchart
• In House - Amendments to Children's Homes Regulations
• In addition Ofsted published this report in 2013 on Missing Children

Barnsley Safeguarding Children Board Policies and Procedures are available here