Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)

Child Criminal Exploitation occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18. The victim may have been criminally exploited even if the activity appears consensual. Child Criminal Exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.
 

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

Child Sexual Exploitation is a type of sexual abuse.

When a child or young person is exploited they're given things, like gifts, drugs, money, status and affection, in exchange for performing sexual activities.

Children and young people are often tricked into believing they're in a loving and consensual relationship.

This is called grooming.

They may trust their abuser and not understand that they're being abused.

Sometimes abusers use violence and intimidation to frighten or force a child or young person, making them feel as if they've no choice.

Anybody can be a perpetrator of CSE, no matter their age, gender or race.

The relationship could be framed as friendship, someone to look up to or romantic.

Children and young people who are exploited may also be used to 'find' or coerce others to join groups.

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Technology is very often used to groom victims.

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This may occur through mobile phones with internet access, social networking sites e.g. TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram etc. and via games consoles that connect to the internet e.g. Playstation or Xbox.  

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Signs that someone may be a victim of CCE or CSE:

• Frequently absent from and doing badly in school.

• Going missing from home, staying out late and travelling for unexplained reasons.

• In a relationship or hanging out with someone older than them.

• Being angry, aggressive or violent.

• Being isolated or withdrawn.

• Having unexplained money and buying new things.

• Wearing clothes or accessories in gang colours or getting tattoos.

• Using new slang words.

• Spending more time on social media and being secretive about time online.

• Making more calls or sending more texts, possibly on a new phone or phones.

• Self-harming and feeling emotionally unwell.

• Taking drugs and abusing alcohol.

• Committing petty crimes like shop lifting or vandalism.

• Unexplained injuries and refusing to seek medical help.

• Carrying weapons or having a dangerous breed of dog.

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Support/Resources

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PACE (Parents Against Child Sexual Exploitation) is a national charity that works with parents and carers whose children are sexually exploited. PACE offers one-to-one telephone support, national and local meet-ups with other affected parents and information on how parents can work in partnership with school, police and social care. 

The NSPCC  has been campaigning to raise the profile of this form of child abuse. 

Share Aware: Help your child stay safe on social networks, apps and games.

Staying safe away from home: Your guide to when your child's old enough to be out on their own, and how to teach them to keep safe while they're away.

Home alone: How to decide when it's safe for your child to be home on their own, and what you can do if they're too young.