Child Sexual Exploitation - risk indicators (Behavioural indicators)

There are a number of signs, symptoms and indicators which may alert you that a child or young person is at risk of CSE:

• Staying out late or regular episodes of being missing overnight or longer without permission
• Reduced contact with family and friends and/or other support networks
• Multiple callers to home (unknown adults/older young people)
• Evidence of/suspicion of physical or sexual assault; disclosure of assault followed by withdrawal of an allegation
• Unplanned pregnancy; repeat sexually transmitted infections (STIs); terminations; high number of sexual partners
• Peers involved in sexual exploitation
• Exclusion, truancy or unexplained absences from school or college
• Relationships with controlling adults
• Entering/leaving vehicles driven by unknown adults or taxicabs
• Frequenting areas known for known on/off street sexual exploitation (prostitution)
• Children under 13 years asking for sexual health advice
• Concerning use of the internet/mobile phone
• Acquisition of money, clothes, mobile phone etc without plausible explanation
• Receiving lots of texts/phone calls prior to leaving
• Agitated/stressed prior to leaving home/care
• Returning distraught/dishevelled or under the influence of substances
• Requesting emergency hormonal contraception (the morning after pill) upon return from an unexplained absence
• Inappropriate sexualised behaviour for age and development
• Physical signs of bruising or bite marks
• New peer groups
• Significantly older 'boyfriend' or 'girlfriend'
• Increasing secretiveness around behaviours
• Change in personal hygiene (greater attention or less attention
• Overtly sexualised dressing
• Self harm and other expressions of despair
• Evidence or suspicion of substance misuse/alcohol and drug use
• Gang member or association
• Risks associated with the Internet:
  • Grooming children or young people on-line for sexual abuse offline
  • Children viewing abusive images of children/pornographic images
  • Selling children or young people on-line for abuse offline
  • Making abusive images of children or young people
  • Viewing abusive images of children or young people
  • Access to contact sites; chat lines via the internet or mobile phones
  • Sexting