Child exploitation is a serious and growing crime both locally and nationally. A type of abuse, it occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of a power imbalance to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into criminal activity, sexual activity and/or modern slavery. This is usually in exchange for something the child needs or wants, such as gifts, alcohol, drugs, money, status or affection.
Every child is vulnerable to exploitation, and many may not recognise that they are being exploited. The effects of this type of abuse can be devastating and can have a profound effect on children well into adulthood. It is crucial that frontline professionals can effectively identify children who are being exploited and proactively work together with other agencies to disrupt offending and safeguard victims.
Next month, Hampshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (HSCP) will be focussing on raising awareness of Child Exploitation and highlighting the multi-agency tools and resources that are available to practitioners to help keep Hampshire’s children safe.
To begin April’s awareness campaign, HSCP launches its first Safeguarding Theme Overview Pack (STOP); consolidating all multi-agency information and support in one accessible resource. This pack is designed as a one-stop resource to assist professionals in working collaboratively to identify and respond to child exploitation.
Practitioners are encouraged to actively share and utilise all the available resources throughout April and beyond, in order to safeguard exploited children in Hampshire.