Today is Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Day. Children can be groomed online or in the real world, by a stranger or by someone they know. Learn to keep an eye out for some of these behaviours that may be signs of grooming >
What does CSE stand for?
CSE stands for Child Sexual Exploitation and is a form of sexual, emotional and physical abuse of children.
It often involves the young person being given food, accommodation, drugs, affection, gifts or money in return for performing sexual activities.
Violence, coercion and intimidation are common in cases of CSE as many perpetrators target vulnerable young people.
This vulnerability is often due to economic or personal circumstances that leave young people with few choices.
Child grooming signs:
Many of these are common teenage behaviours, but keep an eye out for increased instances of changes in behaviour that may be signs of grooming:
Being secretive about who they are talking to and where they are going
Often returning home late or staying out all night
Sudden changes in their appearance and wearing more revealing clothes
Becoming involved in drugs or alcohol, particularly if you suspect they are being supplied by older men or women
Becoming emotionally volatile (mood swings are common in all young people, but more severe changes could indicate that something is wrong)
Using sexual language that you wouldn’t expect them to know
Engaging less with their usual friends
Appearing controlled by their phone
Switching to a new screen when you come near the computer.
Less common behaviours and indicators of exploitation could include:
Being associated with a gang
Becoming estranged from family
Reguarly missing school
Associating with older men and women, particularly if they go missing and are being defensive about where they are and what they’re doing
Possessing items such as phones or jewellery that you haven’t given them but which they couldn’t afford to buy themselves
Having more than one, or a secret phone.
You should be aware of the following signs of CSE and abuse:
They are regularly suffering from sexually transmitted infections
They have unexplained physical injuries such as bruising
Having mood swings or being emotionally volatile
Self-harm or suicide attempts.
What is child sexual exploitation: https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/knowing-the-signs-of-child-sexual-exploitation?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=twittersocial_csesign_18march2019
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