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).
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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: NSPCC
Published: 28-01-2025
NSPCC Learning has published new research on Generative (Gen) Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on children’s safety and wellbeing. Child safety risks highlighted around Gen AI include sexual grooming, sexual extortion and exposure to harmful content.
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
03/03/2025: TikTok profiting from sexual livestreams involving children, BBC told
TikTok is profiting from sexual livestreams performed by teens as young as 15, the BBC has been told.
27/02/2025: SWGfL Welcomes Pornography Review Recommendations
A comprehensive list of recommendations for strengthening protections on online pornography has been published today and delivered to the Government.
22/02/2025: New laws to protect children exploited by gangs in England and Wales ‘will save lives’
Ex-children’s commissioner welcomes crackdown on use of children for crimes such as running county lines.
21/02/2025: ‘Grooming was happening here’: Key witness in Miah brothers sexual abuse trial speaks to Sky News
Barrow has a reputation as a “lying town” because of Eleanor Williams who was convicted of lying about being the victim of an Asian grooming gang. But as three brothers are jailed for preying on underage girls, a witness tells us: “Grooming was happening here and still probably is.”
18/02/2025: More than 100 child sexual abuse image crimes being recorded by police every day
“We’re urging the government to ensure children are better protected in private messaging environments.”
14/02/2025: Childline data reveals boys are most vulnerable to ‘sextortion’
“In response, we launched a new Childline campaign encouraging boys to contact the service for help and support.”
09/02/2025: The importance of multi-agency collaboration in protecting children from exploitation
Northamptonshire Children’s Trust is part of a new hub focused on reducing risk outside the home for children and young people.
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.