Pan Sussex Child Sexual Exploitation Campaign

FemalePreventing and disrupting Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness (CSE) in Sussex is a high prioriy for all agencies. That is why a Pan Sussex CSE Campaign has been launched by Sussex Police in partnership with the Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards.

Over the next three months (from January 2016), the campaign is taking a three phased approach. In the first phase of the campaign, the aim is to increase awareness amongst the general public about CSE, as well as specifically targeting parents and carers with what they need to know about CSE. ‘Child Sexual Exploitation is happening in Sussex’ #StopCSE.

 “I totally believed there was no one I could tell. He had convinced me he was the only person who really cared about me.” – Exploited child

“I just needed someone to ask why I had changed… I would have told them everything.”– Exploited child

 “I just hoped that one day one of the men would be a real boyfriend, that he’d like me for the real me and that he’d want to save me. But it never happened.” – Young victim, quoted by Barnardo’s

Many people have heard about CSE happening in other parts of the country but find it hard to believe it’s happening in their own area. The truth is that CSE is happening in Sussex and we all need to know about it. Being aware of it is the first step towards putting a stop to it.

It’s never the child’s fault

CSE is a crime that can affect any child, anytime, anywhere, regardless of their social or ethnic background. CSE can be carried out by individuals, by street gangs or by groups.  It can be motivated by money or by sexual gratification. But in all cases, there is an imbalance of power – vulnerable children are controlled and abused by adults or by other children.

The grooming process

Perpetrators gain control over children by grooming them, offering excitement, drugs, alcohol, gifts and affection. At first, this control may take the guise of ‘romance’ or ‘friendship’.

But once a child does something – even something really small – that they know they might get ‘in trouble’ for, they become vulnerable to blackmail. As the exploitation gets worse, terrifying threats and violence may be used to keep children compliant. They are sexually exploited not just by the original perpetrators but often by many other abusers.

It’s a trap

Exploited children are trapped because they often believe the abuse is their own fault – they fear they will be blamed or punished if they tell anyone what is happening. They are ashamed of what they are forced to do and are scared they will not be believed.

In many cases, children believe they are in a loving relationship with their exploiter. What’s more the perpetrator will do everything they can to isolate children further by convincing them that their families do not really understand or love them.

Look out for the warning signs

Changes in a child’s behaviour:

  • becomes especially secretive
  • stops seeing their usual friends
  • sudden changes of taste in dress or music
  • sexualisation of their appearance and behaviour
  • receives increased number of calls and messages
  • sharp, severe mood swings
  • starts using a different ‘street language’ or name
  • thoughts of self-harming or low self esteem

Relationships with older men and/or women (although not all perpetrators are older).

Absence from school; repeatedly running away from home.

New, expensive items that they couldn’t afford, such as mobile phones, iPods or jewellery – as well as ‘invisible’ or ‘virtual’ gifts such as phone credit and online gaming credits.

Looks tired or unwell and sleeps at unusual hours

Has marks or scars on their body, which they try to hide.

Involvement in crime, use of drugs and alcohol

Entering or leaving vehicles

What to do if you are concerned about a child?

Call the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub in Brighton & Hove on 01273 290400

What is Sexual Exploitation (WiSE) Project: 01273 333550

Safe Space

If you have concerns that a child might be at risk of CSE, call Sussex Police on 101 in an emergency always dial 999

 

police & Sx LSCBs

  • 1. Universal

    Has needs met within universal provision. May need limited intervention within the setting to avoid needs arising.

  • 2. Early Help

    Has additional needs identified within the setting that can be met within identified resources through a single agency response and partnership working.

  • 3. Early Help Partnership Plus

    Has multiple needs requiring a multi-agency coordinated response.

  • 4. Specialist Services to address Acute & Chronic need

    Has a high level of unmet & complex needs, or is in need of protection.

  • Child developmental needs
    • Good attendance (above 90%)
    • ×

      Good attendance (above 90%)

      ×

      Good attendance (above 90%)

    • Meeting developmental & learning milestones
    • ×

      Meeting developmental & learning milestones

      ×

      Meeting developmental & learning milestones

    • Has emotional well-being
    • ×

      Has emotional well-being

      ×

      Has emotional well-being

    • Ability to protect self and be protected
    • ×

      Ability to protect self and be protected

      ×

      Ability to protect self and be protected

    • Resilient and able to adapt to change
    • ×

      Resilient and able to adapt to change

      ×

      Resilient and able to adapt to change

    • Physically healthy
    • ×

      Physically healthy

      ×

      Physically healthy

    • Age-appropriate self care & independence skills
    • ×

      Age-appropriate self care & independence skills

      ×

      Age-appropriate self care & independence skills

    • Ability to express needs
    • ×

      Ability to express needs

      ×

      Ability to express needs

  • Child developmental needs
    • Absence/truancy from school    
    • ×

      Absence/truancy from school

      ×

      Absence/truancy from school

    • Incidence of absence/missing from home    
    • ×

      Incidence of absence/missing from home

    • Persistent poor behaviour in school  
    • ×

      Persistent poor behaviour in school

      ×

      Persistent poor behaviour in school

    • Risk of social exclusion    
    • ×

      Risk of social exclusion

      ×

      Risk of social exclusion

    • Poor relationships  
    • ×

      Poor relationships

      ×

      Poor relationships

    • Language and communication difficulties  
    • ×

      Language and communication difficulties

      ×

      Language and communication difficulties

    • Disability or additional special educational needs    
    • ×

      Disability or additional special educational needs

      ×

      Disability or additional special educational needs

    • Difficulty in achieving in education  
    • ×

      Difficulty in achieving in education

      ×

      Difficulty in achieving in education

    • Potential for becoming Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)    
    • ×

      Potential for becoming Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)

      ×

      Potential for becoming Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)

    • Slow in meeting developmental milestones    
    • ×

      Slow in meeting developmental milestones

      ×

      Slow in meeting developmental milestones

    • Missing health checks/immunisations    
    • ×

      Missing health checks/immunisations

    • Minor health problems  
    • ×

      Minor health problems

      ×

      Minor health problems

    • Early signs of offending/anti-social behaviour  
    • ×

      Early signs of offending/anti-social behaviour

      ×

      Early signs of offending/anti-social behaviour

    • Underage sexual activity    
    • ×

      Underage sexual activity

    • Early signs of drug/alcohol misuse    
    • ×

      Early signs of drug/alcohol misuse

    • Poor self-esteem    
    • ×

      Poor self-esteem

    • Low level emotional & behavioural issues that may be linked to attachment and/or emotional development delay    
    • ×

      Low level emotional & behavioural issues that may be linked to attachment and/or emotional development delay

    • Young carers    
    • ×

      Young carers

    • Bullying    
    • ×

      Bullying

      ×

      Bullying

    • Children who have previously been in Care, and children living away from their birth parents e.g adopted children, Special Guardianship Orders, Kinship Care.  
    • ×

      Children who have previously been in Care, and children living away from their birth parents e.g adopted children, Special Guardianship Orders, Kinship Care.

      ×

      Children who have previously been in Care, and children living away from their birth parents e.g adopted children, Special Guardianship Orders, Kinship Care.

  • Child developmental needs
    Despite intervention at 2, there is evidence of continuing and escalating need:
    • Persistent absence from school    
    • ×

      Persistent absence from school

      ×

      Persistent absence from school

    • Missing from school/ home regularly with no explanation    
    • ×

      Missing from school/ home regularly with no explanation

    • Fixed Term exclusions/no school place  
    • ×

      Fixed Term exclusions/no school place

      ×

      Fixed Term exclusions/no school place

    • Social exclusion    
    • ×

      Social exclusion

      ×

      Social exclusion

    • Poor relationships  
    • ×

      Poor relationships

      ×

      Poor relationships

    • No access to universal services / “Hidden Children”    
    • ×

      No access to universal services / “Hidden Children”

      ×

      No access to universal services / “Hidden Children”

    • Significant disabilities    
    • ×

      Significant disabilities

    • NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training)    
    • ×

      NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training)

      ×

      NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training)

    • Developmental milestones not being met due to persistent parental failure/inability    
    • ×

      Developmental milestones not being met due to persistent parental failure/inability

      ×

      Developmental milestones not being met due to persistent parental failure/inability

    • Chronic/recurring health problems    
    • ×

      Chronic/recurring health problems

      ×

      Chronic/recurring health problems

    • Regular missed appointments affecting developmental progress    
    • ×

      Regular missed appointments affecting developmental progress

      ×

      Regular missed appointments affecting developmental progress

    • Teenage pregnancy    
    • ×

      Teenage pregnancy

    • Drug/alcohol misuse impacting negatively    
    • ×

      Drug/alcohol misuse impacting negatively

    • Risky sexual behaviour (e.g. unprotected sex)    
    • ×

      Risky sexual behaviour (e.g. unprotected sex)

    • Offending / anti-social behaviour resulting in risk of entering Youth Justice System  
    • ×

      Offending / anti-social behaviour resulting in risk of entering Youth Justice System

      ×

      Offending / anti-social behaviour resulting in risk of entering Youth Justice System

    • Emotional / mental health issues    
    • ×

      Emotional / mental health issues

      ×

      Emotional / mental health issues

  • Child developmental needs
    Persistent/continued/severe:
    • Chronic persistent absence, permanent exclusions or no school place that risks entry to the care system  
    • ×

      Chronic persistent absence, permanent exclusions or no school place that risks entry to the care system

      ×

      Chronic persistent absence, permanent exclusions or no school place that risks entry to the care system

    • Persistent social exclusion    
    • ×

      Persistent social exclusion

      ×

      Persistent social exclusion

    • Poor relationships  
    • ×

      Poor relationships

      ×

      Poor relationships

    • Complex / multiple disabilities    
    • ×

      Complex / multiple disabilities

    • Complex mental health issues affecting development needs, including self harm    
    • ×

      Complex mental health issues affecting development needs, including self harm

      ×

      Complex mental health issues affecting development needs, including self harm

    • High level emotional health issues and very low self-esteem    
    • ×

      High level emotional health issues and very low self-esteem

    • Non-organic failure to thrive  
    • ×

      Non-organic failure to thrive

      ×

      Non-organic failure to thrive

    • Inappropriate sexual knowledge / sexualised behaviour for age.    
    • ×

      Inappropriate sexual knowledge / sexualised behaviour for age.

      ×

      Inappropriate sexual knowledge / sexualised behaviour for age.

    • Harmful Sexual Behaviour / Peer on Peer Abuse    
    • ×

      Harmful Sexual Behaviour / Peer on Peer Abuse

    • Teenage parent/pregnancy under the age of 13    
    • ×

      Teenage parent/pregnancy under the age of 13

    • Concerns about exploitation (including sexual exploitation/ abuse, radicalisation; criminal exploitation; gang affiliation)    
    • ×

      Concerns about exploitation (including sexual exploitation/ abuse, radicalisation; criminal exploitation; gang affiliation)

    • Child victims of modern slavery or human trafficking    
    • ×

      Child victims of modern slavery or human trafficking

      ×

      Child victims of modern slavery or human trafficking

    • Unaccompanied minors    
    • ×

      Unaccompanied minors

    • Drug/alcohol use severely impairing development    
    • ×

      Drug/alcohol use severely impairing development

    • Frequently missing from home resulting in self-neglect    
    • ×

      Frequently missing from home resulting in self-neglect

    • Relationship breakdown between child & parent    
    • ×

      Relationship breakdown between child & parent

    • Offending and in the criminal justice system    
    • ×

      Offending and in the criminal justice system

      ×

      Offending and in the criminal justice system

    • Unexplained / suspicious injury    
    • ×

      Unexplained / suspicious injury

  • Family & Environment
    • Positive relationship between parents
    • ×

      Positive relationship between parents

      ×

      Positive relationship between parents

    • Stable & affectionate relationships with caregivers
    • ×

      Stable & affectionate relationships with caregivers

      ×

      Stable & affectionate relationships with caregivers

    • Housed, good diet and kept healthy
    • ×

      Housed, good diet and kept healthy

      ×

      Housed, good diet and kept healthy

    • Supportive networks
    • ×

      Supportive networks

      ×

      Supportive networks

    • Access to positive activities
    • ×

      Access to positive activities

      ×

      Access to positive activities

    • Positive sense of self and abilities
    • ×

      Positive sense of self and abilities

      ×

      Positive sense of self and abilities

  • Family & Environment
    • Children of prisoners/ parents subject to community orders    
    • ×

      Children of prisoners/ parents subject to community orders

    • Low income affects achievement    
    • ×

      Low income affects achievement

    • Parental conflict and risk of relationship breakdown    
    • ×

      Parental conflict and risk of relationship breakdown

    • Concerns about possible domestic abuse    
    • ×

      Concerns about possible domestic abuse

  • Family & Environment
    • Housing tenancy at risk    
    • ×

      Housing tenancy at risk

      ×

      Housing tenancy at risk

    • Harmful parental conflict and/or relationship breakdown    
    • ×

      Harmful parental conflict and/or relationship breakdown

      ×

      Harmful parental conflict and/or relationship breakdown

    • Transient families  
    • ×

      Transient families

      ×

      Transient families

    • Domestic abuse & coercive control    
    • ×

      Domestic abuse & coercive control

    • No recourse to public funds    
    • ×

      No recourse to public funds

  • Family & Environment
    • Significantly harmful parental conflict and/or relationship breakdown    
    • ×

      Significantly harmful parental conflict and/or relationship breakdown

      ×

      Significantly harmful parental conflict and/or relationship breakdown

    • Suspicion of physical, emotional or sexual abuse or neglect    
    • ×

      Suspicion of physical, emotional or sexual abuse or neglect

      ×

      Suspicion of physical, emotional or sexual abuse or neglect

    • Domestic abuse resulting in child being at risk of significant harm    
    • ×

      Domestic abuse resulting in child being at risk of significant harm

    • Homeless Child/Young Person    
    • ×

      Homeless Child/Young Person

    • Family intentionally homeless    
    • ×

      Family intentionally homeless

    • Extreme poverty affecting child well-being    
    • ×

      Extreme poverty affecting child well-being

      ×

      Extreme poverty affecting child well-being

    • Forced Marriage, Honour Based Violence, Female Genital Mutilation    
    • ×

      Forced Marriage, Honour Based Violence, Female Genital Mutilation

  • Parents & Carers
    • Protected by carers
    • ×

      Protected by carers

      ×

      Protected by carers

    • Secure and caring home
    • ×

      Secure and caring home

      ×

      Secure and caring home

    • Receive and act on information, advice and guidance
    • ×

      Receive and act on information, advice and guidance

      ×

      Receive and act on information, advice and guidance

    • Appropriate boundaries maintained
    • ×

      Appropriate boundaries maintained

      ×

      Appropriate boundaries maintained

  • Parents & Carers
    • Inconsistent care arrangements  
    • ×

      Inconsistent care arrangements

      ×

      Inconsistent care arrangements

    • Poor supervision by parent/carer    
    • ×

      Poor supervision by parent/carer

      ×

      Poor supervision by parent/carer

    • Poor response to child’s physical, emotional or health needs    
    • ×

      Poor response to child’s physical, emotional or health needs

      ×

      Poor response to child’s physical, emotional or health needs

    • Historic context of parents/carers own childhood, i.e Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)  
    • ×

      Historic context of parents/carers own childhood, i.e Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

      ×

      Historic context of parents/carers own childhood, i.e Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

  • Parents & Carers
    • Parental learning or physical disability, substance misuse, or mental health impacts on parenting    
    • ×

      Parental learning or physical disability, substance misuse, or mental health impacts on parenting

    • Inconsistent care arrangements  
    • ×

      Inconsistent care arrangements

      ×

      Inconsistent care arrangements

    • Poor supervision by parent/carer  
    • ×

      Poor supervision by parent/carer

      ×

      Poor supervision by parent/carer

    • Poor response to identified needs    
    • ×

      Poor response to identified needs

      ×

      Poor response to identified needs

    • Historic context of parents/carers own childhood, i.e Adverse Childhood Experiences  
    • ×

      Historic context of parents/carers own childhood, i.e Adverse Childhood Experiences

      ×

      Historic context of parents/carers own childhood, i.e Adverse Childhood Experiences

  • Parents & Carers
    • Edge of care  
    • ×

      Edge of care

      ×

      Edge of care

    • Parental encouragement of abusive/offending behaviour
    • ×

      Parental encouragement of abusive/offending behaviour

      ×

      Parental encouragement of abusive/offending behaviour

    • Continuing poor supervision in the home    
    • ×

      Continuing poor supervision in the home

    • Parental non-compliance / superficial co-operation    
    • ×

      Parental non-compliance / superficial co-operation

    • Inconsistent parenting affects child’s developmental progress  
    • ×

      Inconsistent parenting affects child’s developmental progress

      ×

      Inconsistent parenting affects child’s developmental progress

    • Private fostering    
    • ×

      Private fostering

  • Level of assessment
    No formal assessment
  • Level of assessment
    Consider commencement of Early Help Assessment / Pastoral Support Plan
  • Level of assessment
    Strengthening Families Early Help Assessment and Plan
  • Level of assessment
    Strengthening Families > Child in Need Plan or Child Protection Conference
  • Go direct to Service or search the Family Service Directory for the Local Offer, or call the Family Information Service on 01273 293545
  • Early Help Strengthening Families Assessment & Plan. If you require advice or guidance in respect of the child needs contact the Front Door For Families on 01273 290400
  • Contact Front Door For Families on 01273 290400 or if the child is at immediate risk call the Police on 999