Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type of child sexual abuse. It 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 (Department for Education, 2017).
Elearning
Podcasts
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Websites
Offers support and information for young people aged 8 to 25 across Devon and Cornwall who are experiencing or might experience sexual exploitation. Their service supports children and young people where there are concerns about CSE (Child Sexual Exploitation) in Devon, Cornwall, Plymouth and Torbay. They are independent and we make sure young people get the right support at the earliest opportunity.
Children as young as six are being forced to carry and sell drugs far away from their homes. They are made to skip school, sleep in drug dens, keep secrets from their loved ones. They are treated as criminals when they often feel trapped in a hopeless situation.
Fully Human is the research and development arm of the PSHE Association. It’s our place to think, stretch out and join the dots between this fast changing world and what might best support children and young people to navigate it.
Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type of child sexual abuse. It 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 (Department for Education, 2017; NIdirect, 2021; Scottish Government, 2018; Wales Safeguarding Procedures Project Board, 2020a).
Documents
Author: Gov.UK
Published: 02-09-2024
This is statutory guidance from the Department for Education (‘the Department’) issued under Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 (as amended), the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014, the Non-Maintained Special Schools (England) Regulations 2015 and the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (as amended). Schools and colleges in England must have regard to it when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. For the purposes of this guidance children includes everyone under the age of 18.
Author: NSPCC
Published: 16-08-2024
This briefing uses insights from Childline counselling sessions and NSPCC Helpline contacts to share the types of responses children receive after they have told someone about their experiences of online harm or abuse.
Author: The Children’s Society
Published: 30-06-2024
This resource is designed to guide legal professionals, primarily defence solicitors, and others working in the criminal justice system to improve support for children and young people who have been exploited or where exploitation may have taken place.
Author: Action for Children
Published: 27-03-2024
The facts of criminal exploitation paint a stark picture: tens of thousands of children and young people across the country are controlled and manipulated by criminal gangs, while countless more are at risk. The toll on these young lives is immeasurable, leading to serious physical harm, long-term trauma and criminalisation. Children are paying with their freedom, their childhoods and their lives.
Author: Action For Childre
Published:
In March 2024 we published the findings of the Jay Review of Criminally Exploited Children. This is our first piece of follow-up research, which examines the harms caused to exploited children and makes recommendations to ensure that these children can be safeguarded effectively.
Classroom Resources
Catch On is a free educational resource about Child Exploitation aimed at pupils in Years 7 and 8 (aged 11-13), with additional activities for pupils with special educational needs.
Category: Exploitation
Audience: KS3, SEND
Developed by: Catch-22
Duration (minutes): <60
Keywords:
The Catch On resources support the Child Exploitation (CE) Lesson for KS3 with links to curriculum outcomes from the PSHE Association Programme of Study for PSHE Education (Key Stages 1–5). Catch On contains a suite of options for a single lesson or series of lessons exploring the topic of grooming and exploitation. (Parent’s pack also available)
Understanding healthy and mutually respectful relationships
Category: Exploitation, Healthy Relationships, Online Safety
Audience: KS3, KS4
Developed by: CEOP/NCA
Duration (minutes): 3 x 60
Keywords:
The Exploited film and accompanying lessons aim to help young people understand healthy and mutually respectful relationships; including what healthy and unhealthy features look like in both online and offline contexts and how to report concerns of abuse.
News
27/01/2025: Scottish child abuse gang members jailed for between eight and 20 years
Seven people, whom the judge said had plumbed ‘the depths of human depravity’, will be monitored for life
17/01/2025: Police fear ‘rightwing driven’ reaction to grooming gangs will harm victims
Senior officers say fraction of child abuse cases relate to gangs and funding could be diverted from current cases.
16/01/2025: Home Secretary announces local inquiries into grooming gangs
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced a £5 million plan to implement five local inquiries into grooming gangs.
16/01/2025: Government orders national audit of child sexual exploitation by gangs
Three-month review to probe current scale and nature of gang-based exploitation, while government will also fund and support councils to carry out local inquiries into past abuse, says home secretary Yvette Cooper
08/01/2025: Child sex abuse and grooming gangs: What we know, and what we don’t, from the data
Recent debates over grooming gangs have been marked by accusations of lies and disinformation – this is what the data actually tells us about the victims and perpetrators of child sexual abuse.
04/12/2024: Telegram U-turns and joins child safety scheme
After years of ignoring pleas to sign up to child protection schemes, the controversial messaging app Telegram has agreed to work with an internationally recognised body to stop the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
24/11/2024: AI increasingly used for sextortion, scams and child abuse, says senior UK police chief
The fast-developing technology is providing opportunities in ‘any crime type’ – and police must ‘move fast’ to catch up.
08/11/2024: SWGfL Advocate for Legislative Change on Intimate Image Abuse at Parliament
SWGfL attended a session at parliament on Wednesday 6th November to share their insights on intimate image abuse with the Women and Equalities Committee presenting evidence detailing the immense impact of non-consensual intimate image abuse (NCII) and the critical need to modernise current legislation to protect adults facing this form of abuse.
07/11/2024: “I don’t want to go down that road”: The harms inflicted on criminally exploited children – follow up to the Jay Review
In March 2024, Action for Children published the findings of the Jay Review, an extensive UK-wide review of exploitation. In October 2024, Action for Children published a follow-up report.
04/11/2024: Online grooming crimes against children increase by 89% in six years
As offences rise to record levels, we’re calling for a strengthened approach from Ofcom and for tougher legislation from the UK government.