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Child Sexual Exploitation

What is Child Sexual Exploitation?

Child sexual exploitation is a major child protection issue for communities across the UK. Hidden from view and going unnoticed, vulnerable young girls and boys are groomed and then abused, leaving them traumatised and scarred for life.  

Child sexual exploitation is illegal activity by people who have power over young people and use it to sexually abuse them.

This can involve a broad range of exploitative activity, from seemingly ‘consensual’ relationships and informal exchanges of sex for attention, accommodation, gifts or cigarettes, through to very serious organised crime.

Local Posters on raising awareness of CSE

Three top tips to keep safe - Barnardo's Guidance - Be Aware, Stay Alert and Keep Safe. 

NSPCC - three short animations which deal with subject of sexual exploitation.

The NSPCC has produced three short animations, available on YouTube, which each deal with the subject of child sexual exploitation in a different way.The animations attempt to clarify the complex issues involved and offer starting points for discussion with young people who might be experiencing similar problems.

Click below to see some animations created by the NSPCC and Childline to raise awareness of sexual exploitation

When Someone Cares

Losing Control: Jay

My Story is Real

Chelsea's Choice

CHELSEA’S CHOICE – a powerful production highlighting the issue of child sexual exploitation

We have commissioned 2 weeks this year of 'Chelsea's Choice' to deliver performances to Upper Schools across Bedford Borough. 'Chelsea's Choice' informs young people about grooming and helps individuals to spot the signs of sexual exploitation.

'Chelsea’s Choice’ is a hard-hitting, 35 minute long play which is followed by a 25 minute interactive session which provides an opportunity to explore the issues raised in the safeguarding drama.

Raising young peoples’ awareness of child sexual exploitation is key in helping to prevent them from becoming victims of this crime.

If you would like more information on Chelsea’s Choice please contact us at www.bedford.gov.uk/lscb or telephone 01234 276512

Useful Contacts on Child Sexual Exploitation

Local contacts

	If you or one of your friends are a victim of or could be being sexually exploited contact Bedfordshire Police who have a dedicated child sexual exploitation team. So if you want to talk to a Police officer then please contact them either by email CSE.Unit@Bedfordshire.pnn.Police.uk or telephone 01234846914 or Bedfordshire Police on 101 or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
	Brook provides free and confidential sexual health services and advice for young people under 25 across Bedfordshire. Broadway House, 4-6 the Broadway, Bedford, MK40 2TE Telephone: 01234 761090 Website: http://www.brook.org.uk/
Bedford Borough Council – Children’s Social Care	If you are worried about yourself or a friend you can call the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 01234 718700 (office hours) or ring 0300 300 8123 (out of hours). In an emergency, phone the police 999.
	‘We are a Partnership made up of over 20 member organisations working to support and provide services to victims in Bedfordshire’.  Please visit our website for further detail  http://www.bedfordshirevictimspartnership.org.uk/
	A confidential  & free telephone helpline for women and men over the age of 10 years who have been raped and / or sexually abused at any time in their lives. We offer telephone support for survivors, information on other services and 1-1 counselling with qualified, specially trained counsellors in safe, accessible places across Bedfordshire.  Helpline 10am – 6pm Monday to Saturday 0300 365 1045 PLEASE CONTACT US •             Confidential •             Caring •             Non-judgemental •             Self-referral •             No need to be referred by your GP or anyone else •             Support for non offending partners, family members Email:    thehopeprogramme@gmail.com Website:              http://www.hopeprogramme.com/

National Contacts

The most important thing to remember if this is happening is to tell someone.  This could be anyone from your parents or a teacher or  just someone that you trust. You can contact the police or speak to your social worker if you have one. If you want to get more information about what sexual exploitation is, there is lots of things online for you to look at.

Barnardo's have made a leaflet for young people with advice about spotting the signs of sexual exploitation and how to keep you and your friends safe.  The leaflet is here

if you think a child is in immediate danger, call the police on 999.

faceup2it an interactive website for children and young people who want to know the real deal about child sexual exploitation, it includes advice and young people's stories of CSE.

To watch a video on recognising the signs of sexual exploitation available here 

A leaflet on how to keep you and your friends safe from exploitation is available here 

To watch a music video made to accompany my dangerous loverboy film available Click on this link . The song lyrics and film tell the story of a girl who meets an older boy. He buys her gifts, alcohol and takes her to parties. He drugs her and she becomes entrapped her in sex trafficking and exploitation.

To watch a short film about a young adolescent girl, Milly available by clicking here  Milly is groomed by an older man into having sex with men for money. Milly lives with her mother and her mother's violent partner. She meets Steve who woos her and separates her from her friends. Milly moves in with Steve and starts having sex with men She runs away after hearing Steve arranging to take her to Leeds.