The impact of Child Sexual Exploitation

Sexual exploitation can affect any child. However, some children are particularly vulnerable, including those who:

• live in care or are leaving care
• go missing from home or care
• play truant from school
• have learning difficulties
• have parents who are vulnerable (i.e. with mental ill-health or substance misuse issues)
• are being bullied
• are at risk of offending

Child Sexual Exploitation is a subtle but destructive crime that can end up affecting every part of a victim's health, happiness and development. In particular, victims are at risk of:

• sexual abuse and/or violence, such as sexual assault or rape
• being passed around different people for sexual acts
• physical harm - either from other people or from self-harm
• sexually transmitted infections
• mental health problems
• substance misuse and/or overdose
• suicide attempts
• teenage pregnancy
• isolation from family and friends
• lack of education and/or poor grades at school.