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' as a result of performing, and/or others performing on them, sexual activities.

All children and young people are at risk of being sexually exploited, regardless of age, gender or where they live. Running away or going missing is an early indicator of child sexual exploitation. The act of running away or going missing may be used by all children as a coping mechanism to deal with problems in their life. Children and young people may run away or go missing because they are at risk of harm where they are living; they will also be at risk while they are away from home; or at risk in the place they are running to. 

Our work with sexually exploited children was identified as an issue through our young runaways practice. In 1995 through 'The Game's Up', we publicly campaigned on the issue for the first time, encouraging the police to treat children as victims of abuse rather than as criminals. Throughout the late 1990s we campaigned for the issue to be recognised as sexual exploitation rather than 'child involved in prostitution'. This resulted in the publication of government guidance for police in responding to children, and later the statutory guidance for all professionals in 2000 and 2009. The Children's Society has led this change of approach by professionals through our practice and campaigning work.