Exploitation
Leave this website [external link]
Child sexual exploitation
Child sexual exploitation is a form of sexual abuse that occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator.
A child may be being sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact it can also happen online.
Spot the potential signs of a child who is being sexually exploited:
- Multiple mobile phones
- Injuries which they are hiding
- Older friends both male and female
- Unusual sexual activity
- Absence or truancy from home or school
- Problems at home
- Poor emotional and physical health
- Involvement in gangs
- Behaviour changes linked to being online
- Alcohol and drug misuse
- Receiving unexplained gifts or money
- Mistrust of authority figures.
Child criminal exploitation and county lines
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 be being criminally exploited even if the activity appears consensual.
Child criminal exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur online.
County lines is where illegal drugs are transported from one area to another, often across police and local authority boundaries, usually by children or vulnerable people who are coerced by gangs.
Victims of county lines may also experience other forms of exploitation.
Child criminal exploitation often includes county lines but can also include other crimes, for instance, children forced to work on cannabis farms or to commit theft.
Spot the potential signs of a child who is being criminally exploited:
- Multiple mobile phones or untraceable ‘burner’ phone
- Injuries which they are hiding
- Older friends both male and female
- Unusual sexual activity
- Absence or truancy from home or school
- Problems at home
- Poor emotional and physical health
- Involvement in gangs
- Behaviour changes linked to being online
- Alcohol and drug misuse
- Receiving unexplained gifts or money
- Mistrust of authority figures.
- Anti-social behaviour/involved with criminality
- Use of county-lines related language
- Carrying or storing weapons
- Carrying or having drug paraphernalia
- Possessions which the young person is very attached to and will not put down.
Cuckooing
Cuckooing (also known as ‘forced home invasion’) is a tactic used by criminals, typically drug dealers, to take over the homes of vulnerable individuals, such as care leavers or those with addiction, physical or mental health issues. The property then becomes a base for criminal activity.
This is a common characteristic of county lines and can occur in a range of settings such as rental and private properties, student accommodation, prisons, and commercial properties.
Signs of a cuckooed property include:
- The presence of unfamiliar individuals coming and going from the property at all hours or an increase in key fob activity
- An increase in people visiting or loitering in the area around the property or takeaway deliveries at unusual hours
- An increase in noise and disturbance, including late-night parties or arguments or other signs of anti-social behaviour such as littering around the property
- Damage to the property, such as broken windows or doors
- Threats or intimidation towards other residents or neighbours.