Page 63 - Getting it Right for Vulnerable Children and Young People in North Ayrshire

Victims are required to attend parties and sleep with multiple men and threatened with violence if they try to seek help. Organised exploitation and trafficking: Victims are trafficked through criminal networks – often between towns and cities – and forced or coerced into sex with multiple men. They may also be used to recruit new victims. This serious organised activity can involve the buying and selling of young people. An additional and more recent model is in relation to young people and perpetrators use of new technologies. Technology: Young people access the internet – at home, public places such as schools, libraries, Apple shop and increasingly mobile phones. The setting itself can add to either risk or protective factors. All young people may be at risk – whether it‘s due to lack of confidence and experience in the on line world, or high exposure due to increased accessibility. Technology - where does the risk come from? Content – children and young people accessing pornographic or unwelcome sexual content. Contact – being targeted by a stranger who develops a relationship with the intent of sexual exploiting the child/young person Conduct – creating, uploading or seeking out sexually inappropriate material Combinations – content, contact and conduct are intrinsically linked and young people can behave in different roles at different times. As with many other types of abuse and neglect, children and young people are unlikely to identify themselves as being exploited. Indeed, they may very often vehemently deny this possibility and cite many examples of the behaviour of their exploiter as being evidence of genuine love and affection. It is therefore critical that staff ensure they are familiar with the indicators of child sexual exploitation, remain vigilant to these indicators and respond promptly when concerned. Indicators for child sexual exploitation can be found in Appendix 4. Getting It Right For Vulnerable Children and Young People in North Ayrshire DRAFT V1.1 March 2014 Page No:63