Child sexual exploitation
Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type of child abuse in which children are sexually exploited for money, power, or status. It can affect any child or young person –regardless of their background, culture, gender, age, or ethnicity.
It does not always involve physical contact, it can happen online through the use of technology.
Young people who are involved in child sexual exploitation may:
- Regularly run away from home
- Be repeatedly absent from school
- Get access to alcohol and/ or drugs
- Receive unexplained gifts or money
- Have a distrust of authority
- Hang out with groups of older people or anti-social groups
- Claim they’re in a relationship with an older boyfriend or girlfriend
- Spend more time online
Signs that a child is being abused:
- Changes in behaviour
- Becoming withdrawn
- Aggressive behaviour
- Depression or anxiety
- Changes in eating habits
- Taking alcohol or drugs
- Self-harm
- Missing school
- Problems sleeping
- Becoming very secretive (including around what they are doing online)
To report a concern around CSE, contact your local force by calling 101.
There are also a number of organisations who can help, including:
