When assessing a child or young person’s vulnerability, exploitation should always be considered. Often a hidden crime, it is crucial that practitioners understand signs of exploitation when working through a plan for effective support and protection.
> Report a Concern – give us information about a suspected vulnerable or exploited person
> Access the Somerset Child Exploitation Screening Tool here
> Access the Child Exploitation and Extra-Familial Risk Directory here
Child Sexual Exploitation
Child sexual exploitation is when people use the power they have over young people to sexually abuse them. Their power may result from a difference in age, gender, intellect, strength, money or other resources. People often think of child sexual exploitation in terms of serious organised crime, but it also covers abuse in relationships and may involve informal exchanges of sex for something a child wants or needs, such as accommodation, gifts, cigarettes or attention. Some children are groomed through people who then force the child or young person into having sex with friends or associates.
Child Criminal Exploitation
Criminal exploitation interlinks with a number of multiple vulnerabilities and offences, including the child or young person being exposed to, and/or being victim of, physical and emotional violence, neglect, sexual abuse and exploitation, modern day slavery and human trafficking, domestic abuse and missing episodes.
Trafficking and criminal exploitation are forms of abuse and therefore should be afforded a safeguarding response. Often only the visible symptoms of this abuse receive a response, meaning that many children and young people receive a criminal justice response, while their safeguarding needs are overlooked.
County Lines
The term County Lines is used to describe situations where children or young people may be recruited or transported by threats or coercion for the purpose of criminal exploitation in relation to selling illegal drugs.
Keeping Children Safe Online
The CEOP website has information about online risks at thinkuknow.co.uk and you can also report concerns ceop.police.uk
Childnet also has information and guidance – Childnet.com
Modern Day Slavery & Trafficking
Modern day slavery includes recruiting, moving, receiving and harbouring children for the purpose of exploitation. Child trafficking is a form of modern slavery. Many children are trafficked into the UK from overseas, but children can also be trafficked from one part of the UK to another.
Children are trafficked for:
- Child sexual exploitation
- Criminal activity, including cannabis cultivation, street crime: such as pickpocketing, begging and bag theft, moving drugs, benefit fraud, immigration fraud and selling pirated goods, such as DVDs
- Forced marriage
- Illegal adoption
- Unreported private fostering arrangements (for any exploitative purpose)
- Domestic servitude, including: cleaning, childcare, cooking,
- forced labour, including working in restaurants, nail bars, factories and agriculture
This list is not exhaustive and children who are trafficked are often exploited in more than one way.
National Referral Mechanism:
The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is a framework for identifying victims of modern slavery and human trafficking and ensuring they receive the appropriate protection and support.
> Comprehensive guidance and referral forms can be found on the NRM site here
Radicalisation & Extremism
Prevent/preventing vulnerable people from becoming drawn into terrorism is a key aim of the National Counter Terrorism Strategy (CONTEST), and aims to stop people from being exposed to extreme ideologies, or becoming involved in or supporting terrorist activity.
It is an approach that involves many agencies and communities, to safeguard children, young people and adults who may be at risk of being drawn into terrorism, using existing and specialist tools to intervene early and prevent escalation into the ‘criminal space’ through a multi-agency Channel Panel.
There are well-developed processes to assist practitioners who find themselves concerned about a child or young person:
Publications
Somerset Child Exploitation Strategy
Somerset County Lines Strategy
Somerset VRU Strategy
Effective Support for Children and Families in Somerset
Updated: March 2024 This guidance aims to assist professional assessment around the provision of effective…
Pre-Birth Planning Toolkit
January 2024 – updated to include revised links to SWCPP and ‘Children Social Care Pre-birth…
Somerset Harmful Sexual Behaviour Protocol
This Harmful Sexual Behaviour Protocol is a partnership document and applies to all Somerset agencies….
Hidden Child Guidance
This bite-size guide will provide an overview of guidance for practitioners to consider when dealing…
Welfare Checks Prompt Sheet
This bite-size guide will provide prompts for practitioners to consider when completing a welfare check.
Children Missing from Home or Care in Somerset
Every missing episode should be robustly responded to. Agencies and professionals in Somerset must work…