Safe and Sound Derby have worked hard to support the victims of Operation Retriever and other crimes like it.
What is child sexual exploitation?
“Sexual exploitation of children and young people under 18 involves exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where young people (or a third person or persons) receive ‘something' (e.g. food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, gifts, money) as a result of performing, and/or others performing on them, sexual activities. … 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.”
From HM Government in Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation - Supplementary guidance to Working Together to Safeguard Children (2009)
Who is at risk from child sexual exploitation?
Any child or young person (male and female) may be at risk of sexual exploitation, regardless of their family background, ethnicity, class, gender or other circumstances.
However, there are a number of key risk factors known to make young people more vulnerable to exploitation. These include a history of abuse or neglect, a history of running away or going missing, and those who have disengaged from education. Although many of these factors also often occur as a result of being groomed for child sexual exploitation.
What are the warning signs?
They include:
· Frequently missing from home
· Going out late at night and not returning home until morning
· Disengagement from education
· Being picked up in cars by unknown adults
· Associating with other young people who are being sexually exploited
· Significantly older ‘boyfriend’ or ‘friend’
· Unexplained money, mobile phone credit, new mobile phone
· Change in behaviour, for example becoming secretive or aggressive
· Increased use of mobile phones
What does Safe & Sound Derby do?
Safe & Sound Derby reaches out to children and young people who are being, or could be, sexually exploited in criminal ways that threaten their physical and mental well-being.
· Direct support to young people being, or at risk of being, sexually exploited
· Preventative education and outreach work to raise young people’s awareness of child sexual exploitation and how they might be targeted by the perpetrators of this crime
· Support for parents/carers of children being, or at risk of being, sexually exploited
· Training/awareness raising to practitioners working with children, young people and families, as well as to the wider community to encourage an effective response
· Work in partnership with local statutory agencies to safeguard children
· Taking what we have learned locally to national and international arenas to advocate for victims of child sexual exploitation
Statistics
From 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010, Safe & Sound Derby:
· Provided direct support to 127 young people
· Delivered preventative education to 4,210 young people in schools and other settings
· Spoke with 1,238 young people through our outreach work
From 30 July 2009 16 November 2010 we delivered training and awareness raising around child sexual exploitation and it warning signs to 1,200 professionals working with children, young people and families in Derby City.
How do we work with young people being or at risk of being sexually exploited?
Young people are offered one-to-one support and/or support in small groups. We work to raise young peoples’ awareness of sexual exploitation and how they can safe from harm. Young people also need the confidence to be able to move themselves away from the exploitative relationships that they are involved in, we therefore work to help them build their self-esteem and self-worth. Our input is not time-limited, and is tailored to meet each individual young person’s needs.
Safe & Sound is a voluntary sector organisation and young people choose access our support, they cannot be forced to do so. This is enables us to be an independent advocate for them and other young people experiencing sexual exploitation.
How were we involved in this case?
Due to the knowledge and experience we have gained over a number of years, we were able to raise awareness of the needs of all children and young people who have accessed our services, encouraging a co-ordinated response to the issue here in Derby. We have also provided support to 18 of the victims, and continue to work closely with some of them.
Does Derby have a particular issue with child sexual exploitation?
Safe & Sound Derby is a member of the National Working Group for Sexually Exploited Children and Young People, and our links with the members of this forum suggests that child sexual exploitation is an issue across the UK. Derby has turned the stone on this hidden crime and all agencies have responded to the issue and worked together to safeguard these vulnerable young people.
