How to spot the signs of child sexual exploitation

The day aims to highlight the issues surrounding CSE, encouraging everyone to think, spot and speak out against abuse and adopt a zero tolerance to adults developing inappropriate relationships with children or children developing inappropriate relationships with other children.

Sometimes it can be difficult to tell if a child is being abused or not as the signs aren't always clear. The child themselves might not think of what's happening to them as abuse so it can often be difficult to understand if they're at risk.

So, it's important to know what to look for. Signs of potential sexual abuse or grooming can come in many forms such as:

• Unhealthy or inappropriate sexual behaviour.
• Being frightened of some people, places or situations.
• Bring secretive.
• Sharp changes in mood or character.
• Having money or things they can't or won't explain.
• Physical signs of abuse, like bruises or bleeding in their genital or anal area.
• Alcohol or drug misuse.
• Sexually transmitted infections.
• Pregnancy.

If you're concerned about a young person that you think might be at risk of abuse then you can speak to Oldham’s Complex Safeguarding Hub. The Hub is a Multi Agency Team incorporating staff from Health, Social Care and Police, co-located at Oldham Police Station. The team work with young people, up to the age of 24, considered to be at risk of or experiencing exploitation. If you are worried about a child or young person who may be at risk of or experiencing exploitation please contact the team to share these worries.

If you would prefer to speak to someone else, then local charity Keeping our Girls Safe (KOGS) are available to help. They are a registered charity that works with children and young people to educate them about unhealthy relationships, child sexual exploitation and grooming.

Hayley Harewood, CEO of KOGS, said: “Sometimes sexual exploitation isn’t obvious to the victim. Some people who have been abused might not recognise it as that. People can often think to themselves it was their fault, or that the person exploiting them loves them so they can’t be abusing them. They may not want their families or friends to know about what they have experienced.

“Everyone who has experienced exploitation has been on their own journey and what one person would like in terms of action may be very different to someone else. We are happy to support girls in whichever part of their journey they are at, whether that’s to support them through legal routes or just allowing them to speak, maybe for the first time about their experiences in a safe and non-judgemental space.

“If you’ve been or are being abused then please know that we’re here for you. Reaching out to us just means a conversation will start. If all you want to do is talk then that’s ok - we will listen and believe you.

“If you’re aware of someone else you think might be being exploited then you can speak to us about that as well. You might be unsure of exactly what’s happening and that’s ok. We’re here to help with this and can offer different ways to support you in what’s going on.”

If a child talks to you about sexual exploitation, it's important to:

• listen carefully to what they're saying
• let them know they've done the right thing by telling you
• tell them it's not their fault
• say you'll take them seriously
• don't confront the alleged abuser
• explain what you'll do next
• report what the child has told you as soon as possible.

To speak to KOGS, you can reach out to them via their website www.kogs.org.uk, or you can speak to Hayley over the phone on 07491 068364. 

Or, you can report a safeguarding concern to Oldham's Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub. View the details here.

#CEADay23