Page 47 - 1.Felicity Online policies 2021

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) The 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, (e.g. food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol,
cigarettes, affections, gifts, money) as a result of them performing and/or others performing
on them, sexual activities. Child sexual exploitation can occur through the use of technology
without the child’s immediate recognition; for example, being persuaded to post sexual
images on the internet/mobile phones without immediate payment or gain. In all cases
those exploiting the child/young person have power over them by virtue of their age,
gender, intellect, physical strength and/or economic or other resources. Violence, coercion
and intimidations are common, involvement in exploitative relationships being
characterised in the main by the child’s or young person’s limited availability of choice,
resulting from their social/economic and/or emotional vulnerability. (DCSF 2009) Link to
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guidance

Good practice – Individuals Recognise the symptoms and distinguish them from other forms
of abuse
 Treat the child/young person as a victim of abuse
 Understand the perspective / behaviour of the child/young person and be patient
with them
 Help the child/young person to recognise that they are being exploited
 Collate as much information as possible
 Share information with other agencies and seek advice / refer to Social Care
Good practice – Organisations
 Ensure robust safeguarding policies and procedures are in place which cover CSE
 Promote and engage in effective multi-agency working to prevent abuse
 Work to help victims move out of exploitation
 Cooperate to enable successful investigations and prosecutions of perpetrators

Forced marriages (FM) FM is now a specific offence under s121 of the Anti-Social Behaviour,
Crime and Policing Act 2014 that came into force on 16 June 2014.
A FM is a marriage conducted without the valid consent of one or both parties, and where
duress is a factor Forced marriage is when someone faces physical pressure to marry (e.g.
threats, physical violence or sexual violence) or emotional and psychological pressure (e.g. if
someone is made to feel like they’re bringing shame on their family). This is very different to
an arranged marriage where both parties give consent.
FM is illegal in England and Wales. This includes:
 taking someone overseas to force them to marry (whether or not the forced
marriage takes place)
 marrying someone who lacks the mental capacity to consent to the marriage
(whether they’re pressured to or not)

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https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/278849/Safeguarding_
Children_and_Young_People_from_Sexual_Exploitation.pdf