Child Sexual Exploitation Simon Walker: Public Health England Sexual Health Lead – West Midlands simon.walker@phe.gov.uk
I think by now you cant fail to be aware of the high profile media attention that Child Sexual Exploitation has had after cases in; Derby, Rochdale, Oxford and Rotherham hit the headlines. Rotherham was not the first high profile case and sadly I am sure it will not be the last. Our newspapers were covered in these reports and our newsreaders read out shocking headlines that gave a very sensationalist portrayal of gangs of Asian men grooming young white girls. Communities would be forgiven for believing a new phenomena had appeared that was endangering our children. In many ways they were right, the Jay report highlighted publicly our failings and the horrific abuse that had gone unrealised and children who had been left unprotected. We were at the beginning of a journey to re-think our response and ask some very challenging questions of ourselves, our values and our beliefs.
What is CSE? “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’ (eg. 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.” West Midlands Regional CSE Framework, July 2015 Stat definition.
Dr Helen Beckett – University of Bedfordshire https://www.beds.ac.uk/ic/films
CSE is child sexual abuse but it is characterised by the concept of exchange It can affect any child under the age of 18 – even 16 and 17 year olds who can consent to sex Males and females can be both victims and perpetrators It exists across every ethnic grouping for both victims and perpetrators Not just adults abusing children – peer on peer also prevalent
Children rarely disclose: May not recognise the situation as abusive May feel complicit as they have accepted some form of “reward” or have received something. Unhelpful professional language: A sexually active 12year old girl A 35 year old male is a 14 year olds boyfriend (rather than abuser)
No one agency has the key and we must work together to tackle! Prevention Protection Prosecution/ Pursue – no one crime, but many that can be used under the sexual offences act. No one agency has the key and we must work together to tackle! Pursue – prosecution difficult, disruption focus.
It can take place on or offline by individuals or by groups E.G A 14 year old male giving oral sex to a 17 year old male for money Three 15 year olds being taken to a party house and given drugs or alcohol and then being told they must pay this back through sexual activity with adults.
Warning Signs Missing from home/care/education – should they be in school? Substance misuse/ anti-social or criminal behaviour under the influence or acting aggressively? Low self esteem/ self harming/ mental health concerns Obvious self harm injuries on arms? Inappropriate friendships with adults/ older teenagers Who are they with? Unexplained money or possessions/ drugs & alcohol with no means of payment Who is that group or individual with them? Pocket books provide more detail – these are examples. Consultation during the day – aggressive – bruising – who are they with? Etc.
Warning Signs (continued) Secretive or extensive use of the mobile phone Constant use during consultation, want you to hurry up, looking anxious? Older boyfriend/girlfriend In need of emergency contraception and having sex with older partner? Repeat Sexually transmitted infections Repeat UTIs Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Repeat pregnancy/miscarriage/termination Scenario from CPPE video – use of mobile etc.
See Me Hear Me Framework www.seeme-hearme.org.uk Contributed to and signed up to by all 7 of the WM met area LAs and the WM Police. Partner input and support from PACE, Barnardos and Health A comprehensive operating model on how we would work together as a partnership to identify, assess and respond to CSE It includes a regional screening tool and risk assessment West Mids Met regional framework – part of this is call to action marketing. NOT HEREFORD & WORC. By Summer of 2014 we had a regional framework that had been contributed to and signed up to by all 7 of the West Mids met area LAs and the West Mids Police. We had had partner input and support from PACE, Barnardos, education and health. The framework set out a comprehensive operating model on how we would work together as a partnership to identify, assess and respond to the Sexual Exploitation of Children. It included a regional screening tool and risk assessment, developed from current best practice from the NWG and was based on the recommendations made by the Office of the Children’s Commissioner.
Regional call to action marketing campaign. www.seeme-hearme.org.uk Raise awareness of what CSE is Highlight the risk indicators and warning signs Signpost people to where they can get help
What is the threat ? 922 young people identified 87 (9%) young people identified as at ‘Serious Risk’ 18% male Most identified age range 14 -17yrs but overall 8 – post 18 Met region only 922 at risk / being targeted / exploited - 87 experiencing exploitation.
What can I do Safeguarding Lead – MASH referral & CSE Screening Tool Contact local CSE Team/ Co-Ordinator In an emergency contact Police 999, or for non-emergencies Police 101 Young people can contact ‘Say Something’ – 24/7 –phone or text STOP CSE 116000 Display awareness materials in your pharmacy Crimestoppers – free & in confidence – 0800 555 111 Be Inquisitive - CONSISTENT – PERSISTENT – ENDURING - SUPPORT Coordinator support and more training.
Herefordshire If you have concerns about the safety and/or welfare of a child or young person telephone the MASH team on 01432 260800 If you have access to secure email then MARF referrals can be sent to: cypd@herefordshire.gcsx.gov.uk Outside of office hours call 01905 768020 Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Board website: https://herefordshiresafeguardingboards.org.uk/hscb
Herefordshire CSE and Missing Co-ordinator can be contacted for advice – Amy Proctor 01432 260552 CSE pre-checklist can be found at https://herefordshiresafeguardingboards.org.uk/herefordshire-safeguarding-children-board/child-sexual-exploitation-and-missing-sub-group/
Worcestershire Tanya Ruff (Social worker for CSE and Missing) Tel: 01905 843595 Email: TRuff@worcestershire.gov.uk Carol McDougall-Bell (Social worker for CSE and Missing) Tel: 01905 843730 Email: CMcDougall-Bell@worcestershire.gov.uk
Worcestershire WSCB Multi-agency Child Sexual Exploitation Pathway Child Sexual Exploitation – Identification Tool