Child Exploitation information for parents or carers

Child exploitation is a form of abuse that involves the manipulation and/or coercion of young people under the age of 18yrs for someone else’s advantage, gratification or profit. This often results in the unjust, cruel and harmful treatment of the child. This harm usually takes place outside of the family home or unit so the signs exploitation may sometimes be missed. This means parents and professionals may not realise a child is at risk of being exploitation until the risk of abuse has escalated.

Parents, carers and family members may feel ashamed or stigmatised and so may not want to seek additional support. They may also have had negative experiences with statutory agencies in the past which could prevent them seeking out or accessing support.

We want to be clear that the shame of these crimes does not belong to the victims and their families, but to those who commit these crimes. Nottinghamshire County and Nottingham City’s Safeguarding Children’s Partnership are committed to disrupting and pursing those who exploit children as well as protecting those impacted by child exploitation.

Signs and indicators of child exploitation

Some potential indicators of child exploitation are listed below:

Grooming/coercion

• Involved in dangerous and/or offending behaviour
• Threats of harm/actual harm to child and/or family
• Excessive receipt of texts/phone calls and/or having multiple handsets
• Receiving or sharing explicit or harmful material
• Inappropriate sexual knowledge and/or reports of sexual harm
• Travelling/being transported: unexpectedly, secretly, regularly to unknown addresses, out of area, in taxis, on trains, private cars
• Suspected drug related activity and found with drugs, scales, money
• Carrying/using weapons
• Sudden changes in friendships or associates, particularly with controlling/older individuals or groups
• Gang association or isolation from peers or social networks
• Arrested, linked to County Lines/drug debts or found in cuckooed properties

Changes in behaviour

• Going missing from home, care or school and/or being found out-of-area
• Unexplained acquisition of money, clothes, or mobile phones
• Withdrawal; becoming secretive, distant, or avoiding social interactions and activities
• Self-harm or significant changes in emotional well-being
• Offending behaviour including antisocial behaviour

Social media and technology

• Secretive online communication/hiding online interactions and activities
• Excessive online presence: spending excessive time on social media or devices; multiple online identities
• Online contact with individuals of concern: forming connections with individuals resulting from grooming
• Use of the dark web: knowledge of/accessing/trading

Health implications

• Self-care: neglecting personal hygiene, nutrition, or health maintenance
• Mental health issues: emotional distress, anxiety, depression, self-harm
• Drug and alcohol use: substance misuse as a coping mechanism
• Unexplained injuries: unexplained cuts, bruises, or other physical harm
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): health issues that may indicate concerning sexual activity

Reporting concerns about child exploitation

If you are concerned that your child is being exploited, then speak to a professional who knows and supports your child and/or family. This may be the child’s school, youth leader or health practitioner for example. They will know how to respond and who to contact for further information.

You can also contact Nottinghamshire Police or Nottinghamshire Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub to report a crime or to report concerns about a child at risk of abuse or exploitation:

Nottinghamshire Police

If you are a victim of child abuse including child exploitation, or worried for the safety or wellbeing of a child, find out different ways you can get in touch: How to report possible child abuse | Nottinghamshire Police

Nottingham City Safeguarding Children Partnership

If you are worried that a child is at risk of abuse, then please follow this link to report your concerns to the Local Authority:

Multi-Agency Safeguarding Children Hub (City MASH)

Support for parents and carers impacted by child exploitation

If you are a parent or carer who is impacted by child exploitation, then you may find the following resources helpful in addition to support available via the Local Authority to understand the threat better and to find support as a parent:

• Welcome to the NWG Network
• The Children's Society | UK children's charity
• Missing People SafeCall service - SafeCall - Missing People
• Ivison Trust - We support families affected by child exploitation.