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Safeguarding


Older notices are available in the parent section.

St Julie’s Catholic High School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, governors, volunteers and visitors to share this commitment

Child Sexual Exploitation

May 5, 2016

What is child Sexual Exploitation?

  • CSE is when children and young people receive something as a result of performing, or others performing on them, sexual activities.  These things could include:
  • Food
  • Accommodation
  • Drugs
  • Alcohol
  • Cigarettes
  • Affection
  • Gifts
  • Money

 

Where does CSE occur?

With the technological advances in today’s modern society, the perpetrators of this crime are turning to the internet and mobile phones.  They are harder to trace using this media, making it difficult to catch them and therefore will keep doing it.

Why is this crime committed?

In all cases, those people exploiting children and young people have power over them.  This is because of the victims:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Intellect
  • Physical strength
  • Resources

 

Do victims report CSE?

Unfortunately for victims, the pain of their ordeal and fear that they will not be believed means they are too often scared to come forward.  This means we have a vital role in looking for this, as we may be that child's only hope and chance of escaping what they are being subject to.

Indicators of CSE

  • Offending behaviour
  • Increased online activity
  • Returning home with physical injuries
  • Drug/alcohol misuse
  • Estranged from family
  • Older partners
  • Mental health difficulties
  • Self-harm
  • Pregnancy and termination
  • Repeated STI’s
  • Missing from home
  • Unexplained gifts

 

Vulnerable circumstances

  • Living in a dysfunctional household
  • History of abuse
  • Recent bereavement/loss
  • Gang association
  • Learning disabilities
  • Sexually exploited peers
  • Unsure of sexual orientation
  • Homeless
  • Living in care/hostel
  • Low self-esteem
  • Young carer

 

The Law

  • Children's Act 1989.  Section 47.
  • “There is a duty on the Local Authority to make enquiries where there is a reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering harm, or likely to suffer harm”.

We ALL have a duty of care to our pupils to look out and report this.