Child Sexual Exploitation

Presentation by Sue Sainsbury

Barnardo’s Children’s Service Manager

Raising Awareness

 Child Sexual Exploitation is not new!

 Definition of child sexual exploitation  Models of child sexual exploitation  Grooming Process  The role of the internet in sexual exploitation  The sexual exploitation of boys  Challenges  The need to protect  How we work/what we do  Multi-agency response  Perpetrators of child sexual exploitation  Further support and advice

CSE in the news

CSE – A new phenomenon?

 Late 19th century – Campaigners depicted child prostitutes as “betrayed innocents” which led to increased age of consent from 13 to 16 – Criminal Law Amendment Act 1922  Interwar period – Judges commented on “wickedness of girls under 16 seducing men twice as old as themselves”  1989-95 – 1,700 convictions of under 18s for offences relating to prostitution plus 2,300 cautions (40% increase in under 16s) - Four 12yr old girls convicted and two 14yr old boys. Youngest conviction was a 10yr old.

 2004 – there were three prosecutions  2007 – Judges describe 13yr old girls as “sexually promiscuous and active” and “prostitute and heroin addict”

CSE – A new phenomenon?

 2012 - Nine men were found guilty of offences relating to a localised grooming network based in Rochdale.

 2013 - Seven men from Oxford were convicted of offences relating to child sexual exploitation at the Old Bailey in London. The offences which had taken place from 2004 to 2011, included rape, arranging child prosecution Sexual activity with a child and trafficking a child within the UK for sexual exploitation.

Definition of child sexual exploitation

Sexual exploitation of children and young people under 18 involves exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where children (or a third person or persons)

receive ‘something’ (for example, food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, gifts, money) as a result of performing sexual activities and/or another performing sexual activities on them.

Child sexual exploitation can occur through the use of technology without the child’s immediate recognition, for example persuasion to post sexual images on the internet/mobile phone with no 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.

(Definition by NWG and cited in DCSF guidance)

Models of CSE

Barnardo’s has found that child sexual exploitation tends to be a hidden activity and much more likely to take place in private residences than visibly, on the streets. Barnardo’s has identified three different models of activity; they are not exhaustive, but show a spectrum of exploitation.

Exploitation through befriending and inappropriate relationships Peer Exploitation/Gangs & Groups Organised/networked sexual exploitation trafficking

Exploitation through befriending and inappropriate relationships

. Inappropriate Relationships/Boyfriend model of exploitation

where one perpetrator who has inappropriate power or control over a young person ( physical, emotional or financial). One indicator may be a significant age gap. The young person may believe they are in a loving relationship. The perpetrator befriends and grooms a young person into a ‘relationship’ and then coerces or forces them to have sex with friends or associates.

Grooming

The word grooming is used to describe the process that abusive adults use to trick a child or young person into believing that they are trustworthy so that they can eventually sexually exploit the young person

Exercise

Spend 10 minutes discussing with the person next to you about the early stages of a relationship you have been in and the type of things you or your partner did for each other.

Peer Exploitation/Gangs & Groups



Peer Exploitation

– young people are forced or coerced into sexual activity by peers and associates. The exploitation appears to be taking place within age appropriate associations or relationships. Research within Barnardo's services identified a significant issue with groups of young people hanging around in parks drinking alcohol given by older people or peers and having sex.



Gang

– mainly comprising men and boys aged 13 – 25 years old, who take part in many forms of criminal activity, such as knife crime or robbery, who can engage in violence against other gang ,and who have identifiable markers such as territory, a name, sometimes clothing etc. 

Group -

way.

involves people who come together in person or online for the purpose of setting up, co-ordinating and/or taking part in the sexual exploitation of children in either an organised or opportunistic

Organised/Networked Sexual Exploitation/Trafficking.

Young people (often connected) are passed through networks, possibly over geographical distances, between towns and cities where they may be forced/coerced into sexual activity with multiple men. Often this occurs at ‘sex parties’, and young people who are involved may be used as agents to recruit others into the network. This internal trafficking of British children within the country often involves a number of perpetrators and is more sophisticated in the way that it is organised. Some of this activity is described as serious organised crime and can involve the organised ‘buying and selling’ of young people by perpetrators.

The role of the internet in sexual exploitation

The internet as an instrument of abuse

(Selling) children on line for abuse on-line Grooming children on-line for sexual abuse offline Making abusive images of children Children viewing abusive images of children Viewing abusive images of children Children viewing adult pornographic images Selling children on line for abuse offline General criminality Access to internet and chat lines Contact via mobile phones

‘Sexting’ in your local area

SEXTING IS DEFINED AS THE “EXCHANGE OF SEXUAL MESSAGES OR IMAGES” AND “CREATING, SHARING AND FORWARDING SEXUALLY SUGGESTIVE NUDE OR NEARLY NUDE IMAGES” THROUGH MOBILE PHONES AND THE INTERNET.

•

Alarming rise in 'sexting' craze across Hampshire schools

• WHEN a class of 13-year-olds were asked to raise their hands if they had sent an explicit naked picture of themselves or knew someone who had, the response was shocking. Every child in the Southampton echo April 2013) classroom put their hands up for the random survey. (Daily

E-Safety – we need to understand…

• the reasons why young people are taking and forwarding these images • the issue of trust in relationships • how photos can end up out of the hands of the intended recipient and be circulated much more widely • the speed at which images can be spread on the internet • the online and offline bullying which may occur as a result • the idea of digital footprint and online reputation • the legal implications of self-generated indecent images • the process of removing content online, and where to seek further help and advice • why they should not take and send these images.

The role of technology in CSE

• Services reported that the scale of online and mobile abuse has markedly increased even since 2010. Almost all services reported it as an increasing priority, and some have identified that the majority of their service users were initially groomed via social networking sites and mobile technology. • ‘

The use of technology is such a big issue. I hear of young people who posting appropriate pictures of themselves on the internet through the encouragement of others. I hear about grooming of young people by older adults over the internet which progresses onto mobiles. Sexual bullying and threats over the internet and mobiles, we hear about this all the time.’ [Service manager

]

Sexual exploitation of boys common scenarios

Older men offering paid work/ “odd jobs”

 Older man often known to the young man   Develop a trusting friendship Young person feels like they owe something back.

Young man exploring their sexuality in risky ways

.

 Seeking sexual experiences   Targeted/ arranging to meet in public sex environments Young men searching for men on the internet

Involving young men in sexual exploitation through parties.

 Huge amounts of drugs and alcohol given.

   Older boys used to recruit younger Organised Young men given money and mobile phones.

Sexual exploitation of boys common factors

 Isolation  Lack of self confidence  Drug and alcohol abuse  Family instability/homelessness/looked after  Organised groups trafficking young people between cities  Limited awareness of risk

Sexual exploitation of boys differences

    More hidden More isolated from peer group Perceived to be at less risk Young men are less likely to have an “emotional attachment” to one individual who is exploiting them.

 Risk can be created in part by them exploring their sexuality by seeking unsafe sexual encounters.

  Use of internet a significant factor Greater reluctance to seek help from services

Exercise - why don’t young people tell?

Why young people don’t tell?

 Children may not see it as abuse or dangerous  Too trivial  Shame / embarrassment  Culture of fear/silence  Blame self  Rewards often appear to outweigh the risks  Fear situation would get worse  Children may be involved in other criminal or anti social activity

Exercise –What draws young people back to their abusers

come up with some ways to overcome these barriers

.

What might draw children back to their abusers

 Fear  Loss of trust in ALL adults  Low self-esteem  Worry about …  Feel like criminals   Emotional / psychological distress Mental health issues – could include: • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder  Dependant relationship with exploiters  Flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety attacks, irritability and other symptoms of stress.

 A loss of ability to concentrate  Present as anti-social, aggressive and angry, and/or fearful and nervous, finding it difficult to relate to others  Grief and loss

Challenges

Sexually exploited young people are often a hard to reach group because… The grooming process creates what we call a “willing victim” meaning that the young people often do not realise or accept that they are being sexually exploited. It takes time for young people to accept their own abuse. Young people are likely to get very defensive or refuse to engage with their worker if they see them as being critical of the young person’s “boyfriend”, If the abusing adult involved with the young person sees Barnardo’s as a threat, they can try and stop the young person from engaging with the service.

Challenges

These young people can lead chaotic lifestyles which can be due to their substance use and life circumstances. Many of them are frequently missing making them difficult to get hold of. Appointments are often missed, or cancelled.

Challenges

These young people often have little positive experience of adult support and many are disengaged from all services. They are mistrustful of adults or professionals. As part of the voluntary sector we find it easier to engage with young people than statutory services as young people have the choice as to whether or not they wish to engage with the service.

If they don’t have to, they probably will want to!

Perceptions-why does it matter?

Recent serious case reviews state that young people need to be listened to and that adults need to take their disclosures

seriously.

The Rochdale SCR(2012) review stated that services put into place to safeguard children and young people are still not acting on disclosures that children make and ‘had the needs of these young people been better identified and addressed at an early stage, the risks of later abuse might have been reduced’. Many of the disclosures made to adults saw the young people being blamed for the sexual exploitation experienced. They were dealt with as ‘rebellious adolescents’ and two young people ‘received criminal convictions for behaviour that should have been dealt with in terms of their status as victims of abuse rather than as offenders’. The perception of young people is the assumption that they are ‘

consenting

or ‘

asking for it

’.

This is far from a reality- Perceptions Need to Change.

It’s not a choice…

Because grooming process often creates what is known as a “willing victim” it is vital to remember that…

Children and young people cannot consent to their own abuse.

Consent does not make an unlawful act lawful.

Sexual exploitation is an area which always has significant child protection concerns as children involved in prostitution and sexual exploitation should be considered as victims of abuse.

Child Protection

Sexual exploitation is an area which always has significant child protection concerns as children involved in prostitution and sexual exploitation should be considered as victims of abuse. A child protection concern as defined by section 47 of the Children Act 1989 is where a child is considered to be at risk of “significant harm”.

If we look at the 4 categories of abuse as defined by the Children Act 1989 we have examples of concerns in cases of sexual exploitation which would fall into all 4 categories.

What does this really mean?

For our young people it means:



Physical assault



Rape



Emotional abuse



Isolation



Humiliation/ embarrassment



Fear



Confusion

“I love him because he looked after me, bought me nice things. Then he asked me to have sex with this man because he owed him money. He said he would kill him if he didn’t pay up, so I did it. Now he threatens to kill me and beats me up if I don’t sleep with who he says.” 16-year-old girl.

Professional Duties.

Any person working with under 18’s have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

Any person working with under 18’s have a duty to pass on child protection concerns. This also includes concerns about young people with whom you may not be working. It is YOUR responsibility to make the assessment as to whether you suspect a young person is at risk- not the young person’s.

Child Abduction Legislation.

Sub-Section 2(1) of the Child Abduction Act 1984 provides an offence in relation to the taking or detaining of a child where the offender is not connected with that child. It states: "any person other than the parent, lawful carer, etc, commits an offence if without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, he takes or detains a child under the age of 16 years: (A) so as to remove him from lawful control of the person having lawful control of the child or, (B) so as to keep him out of the lawful control of any person entitled to lawful control of the child."

What can we do.

Barnardo’s works from the model of practice “The 4 A’s”; 

Access

.

Either by referral from another agency or self referral. Flexible, responsive and on the young person’s own terms.



Attention

.

We “hook” a young person out of an unsafe relationship into positive ones with persistence and by focussing on issues that matter to the young person.



Assertive Outreach

.

Consistent and persistent attention from a named worker including texts, calling and cards and meeting the young person on their own ground.

 Advocacy. Establishing and maintaining effective

interagency relationships keeping the needs of the young

Our Aim

Although our ultimate aim is to support these young people to be removed from sexual exploitation this does not happen quickly. By focussing on their vulnerability factors and risk indicators we can reduce how much at risk the young person is.

Complex Needs

The young people we are working with generally have a range of complex needs and difficulties including…

Substance misuse, going missing, mental health problems, self harm/ suicide attempts, housing issues, NEET, family breakdown, domestic violence, eating disorders, historic and current abuse, sexual health problems and low self esteem.

Barnardo’s cannot deal with all these issues alone!

Multi Agency Working!

• In order to protect children ALL agencies need to adopt a multi agency approach. This is the best way to manage risk.

• You don’t know everything! All agencies hold just one small piece of the jigsaw. It’s only by putting these pieces together that we see the full picture.

• Remember, protecting children is the responsibility of adults, not of the children themselves. Sometimes we have to protect children against their own will.

• A multi agency approach is needed to help identify dangerous people which helps with our assessment of risk and protection of young people

Perpetrators of CSE

Characteristics of a ‘groomer’

 Friendly  Good communicator  Good listener  Acute observer – able to identify weak spots or ‘hooks’ very quickly  Skilful with young people  Manipulative  Clever

Quote from a groomer

“These were throw away girls, no more ‘ worthy than a lollipop thrown down on the ground”

Adil Rashid, 18 - admitted to having sex with a 13 year old girl groomed on the internet.

Key Points

 Prevention and early intervention are vital when indications of risk are first identified-awareness of risk is key to prevention.

 A child cannot consent to his/her own abuse and sexually exploited children are in need of protection.

 Using the legislation in a proactive way-but if we cannot prosecute we can at least disrupt  Confront and challenge attitudes and values that confirm some young people are worthless  It is critical that accessible and acceptable services work alongside these children in some very risky and distressing situations

Government Action Plan (2011)



Local authorities must map the needs

of their own area  Monitor ongoing

prevalence and responses

 Develop

an effective local strategy ensuring there is a co-ordinated multi-agency response



Increase understanding of child sexual exploitation

, in the professional and wider community 

Safeguard and promote the welfare of groups of children who are potentially more vulnerable

days/courses than others and are at increased risk of child sexual exploitation, by: establishing effective communication channels between the LSCB and partner agencies, including specialist services which have an important role to play; attending voluntary and community sector conferences to increase personal knowledge; providing briefing to social care teams; and arranging multi agency training

The action plan follows the publication of the report by Barnardo's Puppet on a String

Further support and advice

Assumptions

Changing Perspectives

Think about the terms…

• Teenage Prostitute • Rent Boy

If young people hear these terms what other terms would come to their mind; what images and ideas of their lifestyle etc ?

Young People’s Responses

slut dirty ho CRACK WHORE DISGUSTING SLAPPER slag tart BUMMER BOY DRUGGIE sket filthy wants it nympho BIKE street corner SMACK HEAD man whore GAYLORD streetwise STI’s waster high class hooker loads of money CHEAP gross

Professionals Responses

Popular assumptions

She’s Promiscuous She is prostituting herself choice He is making a She’s always doing this She is putting herself at risk He’s sexualised.

over the age of consent/ it’s legal There’s nothing we can do He is It’s their boyfriend/ partner Manipulative Attention seeking They want the money/ drugs He is streetwise He is giving consent It’s legal

Change Our Perspective

Vulnerable ABUSED low self esteem manipulated neglected HURTING Coerced INNOCENT trusting Inexperienced young testing boundaries LOOKING FOR LOVE scared AT RISK acting out past trauma GROOMED Learned behaviours ANGRY confused Needing attention wanting to feel grown up

Hampshire Children’s Services Department are developing a Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub to run alongside existing services provided by Hants Direct and the Children’s Reception Team. This is a new way of responding to referrals

Referral Pathway to Children’s Social Care

Public Hantsdirect Professionals Line Children’s Reception Team Embedded Social Work Team Signposted Social Care

HCC is well positioned to develop a MASH following the successful implementation of a Multi Agency CYP triage group alongside the Children’s Reception Team. The MASH model is widely accepted as best practice and is a logical step for Hampshire

Health

Triage of Police Reports

Police CYP Referrals

TRIAGE Police / Health / Social Care

Social Care NFA Police

• A Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub or MASH was first developed in Devon in 2010 following a Police and Children’s Services initiative for developing services which provided true multiagency assessment and triaging of safeguarding concerns.

• The purpose was a dedicated multiagency team to protect the most vulnerable children and adults from harm, neglect and abuse. • The Devon model trialled the use of police intelligence to make risk based assessments, and was a recommended example of good joint working in the final Munroe report 2011/12 which urged Children’s Social Care to consider new single access methods of ‘gate keeping’.

Partners involved in MASH

• Children’s Services inclusive of education and YOT.

• Police • Adult Social care • Health.

Virtual partners

• Probation • Housing • District Councils • Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service • Hampshire Ambulance Service

CYP triage CA12 Hampshire Probation MASH Children Social Care & Education Health HampshireF ire / Rescue Virtual Hampshire Ambulance service Police Adult Services Borough and District Councils Housing Community Safety Troubled Families

Desired Outcomes of MASH

•

A faster

• An • Closer , more

co-ordinated

children and adults.

improved ‘journey’

• A more straightforward and clear guidance and support. • A

partnership reduction

and re-referrals. and

consistent

response to safeguarding concerns about vulnerable for the child or adult with a greater emphasis on early intervention and better informed services provided at the right time.

responsive

process for the professional or citizen raising a concern, with working, clear accountability and improved multi-agency communications. in the number of inappropriate referrals

Benefits of MASH

• The MASH gives quicker response times with a better coordinated approach to resources meaning each agency works more effectively and efficiently in their own field of expertise.

• The proven reduction in inappropriate referrals and re-referrals means that time and resources are targeted most effectively and savings are made.

• The proven reduction in inappropriate referrals and re-referrals means that time and resources are targeted most effectively and savings are made.

• Staff and agencies have an increased understanding and appreciation of each others roles and responsibilities leading to increased skills, better multi agency working and more effective judgement. • Development of flexible working patterns and providing enhanced customer service.

Process for Referrals from January 2014

• Contact made to CRT • CRT will either signpost to Early Help or transfer to MASH • MASH will research and gather information from co located and virtual partners • MASH will decide whether Early Help or Statutory Assessment by Children’s Services is required • CP Strategy discussions will be face to face and take place in MASH • CRT and MASH will use the SERAF tool.

Case Study

• Michelle is14yrs 6mths old. Over the last few months she has been truanting from school and coming home late. There have been some arguments between Michelle and her parents. Michelle has stopped attending afterschool clubs and no longer confides in her teachers. She has accessed the sexual health clinic for the morning after pill on one occasion and states her sexual activity was consensual. Recently she has been sending clothed but provocative pictures via her mobile to unknown males.

Feedback

• What are the risks for Michelle ?

• Would completion of a SERAF assist in structuring your thinking around CSE risks ?

Hampshire CSE Working Group

• • • Multi-agency partners Terms of reference Strategic - MET/Hotspots/Analysis • • • CSE Leads in Children’s Services Operational Early Help – threshold matrix.

Questions?