Child exploitation
Child exploitation is when someone uses a child/young person for financial gain, sexual gratification, labour or personal advantage.
Exploitation can take a number of forms and children and young people may be subject to several types of exploitation at the same time such as criminal exploitation (Including County Lines) and sexual exploitation.
For more information about child exploitation please visit the Parents against child exploitation (Pace) website.
Top Tips
- If you suspect that your child is being exploited, it's important to take action right away.
- Speak with your child immediately and provide them with a safe and supportive environment where they can share their concerns.
- Additionally, you should report any suspicions of child exploitation to your local authorities or child protection agencies.
What to do
If you have concerns that a child is being sexually exploited, you should report your concerns to police. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
If you are concerned that a child is at risk of being sexually exploited, please contact Herefordshire Council's
- Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 01432 260800
What to do if you are concerned about a friend?
If you're concerned a friend or another child or young person may be putting themselves at risk of CSE then it's really important to let someone know. You can either talk to a teacher at school or contact ChildLine.
- Stop It Now! is a confidential helpline for anyone with concerns about child sexual abuse.
- West Mercia Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Centre offer free, confidential and non-judgemental support for those who've experienced rape, assault, incest, sexual abuse, sexual harassment or any form of sexual attack, whether physical, verbal or emotional.
- West Mercia Police have some some useful information about child sexual exploitation.
- Visit NHS Choices for information on how to spot child sexual exploitation.
- The Brook Clinic has some useful information on spotting the signs of CSE.
- PACE is the leading national charity working with parents and carers of sexually exploited children.
- The NSPCC has a range of information on child sexual exploitation, including information about trafficking and young people in gangs.
- Barnardo’s also provides a range of information on CSE.
- The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) is the UK's law enforcement agency dedicated to tackling sexual exploitation of children and also provides education and awareness resources aimed at children and young people on the Thinkuknow website.