Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Sexual Exploitation

Children who are sexually exploited are the victims of child sexual abuse. The identification of a child who is being sexually exploited, or at risk of being sexually exploited, should always trigger the agreed local procedures to ensure the child's safety and welfare and to enable the police to gather evidence about abusers and coercers. These procedures can be accessed from the drop down menu on the left. 

The strong links that have been identified between different forms of sexual exploitation, running away from home, gang activity, child trafficking and substance misuse have been borne in mind in the development of procedures. These include identifying signs of sexual exploitation, routes for referring concerns, advice on working with other professionals to disrupt sexual exploitation and support victims, gathering and preserving evidence about perpetrators, as well as how to deal with more complex issues such as those relating to the increasing use of the internet in sexual exploitation. 

The DCSF published guidance in June 2009 on Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation 

Further information and guidance documents relating to sexual exploitation can be found below.