Child exploitation is a type of abuse that happens when someone you trust makes you commit crimes for their benefit. It can happen to any young person under the age of 18.
There are lots of different types of child exploitation; its important to remember that more than one can be happening at any one time.
The DSCP has a Tier 2 Information Sharing Agreement that provides a framework on how to share information relating to Harm Outside of the Home – see Tier 2 Information Sharing Agreement: Harm Outside of the Home (Durham).
Sexual exploitation
Being encouraged, tricked or forced to take part in a sexual activity (like having sex with someone, performing a sexual act, or sending/receiving indecent images) in exchange for something. It can happen face to face or online, with individuals or in groups.
You might be tricked into believing you’re in a loving and consensual relationship. This is called grooming abuse. You might trust your abuser and not understand that you’re being abused. You may also be used to ‘find’ or get others to join groups.
When you are sexually exploited online, you might be persuaded or forced to:
- send or post sexually explicit images of yourself
- film or stream sexual activities
- have sexual conversations
Once an abuser has images, video or copies of conversations, they might use threats and blackmail to force you to take part in other sexual activity. They may also share the images and videos with others or circulate them online.
Real stories of Sexual exploitation can be found on It’s Not Okay
Criminal exploitation
Being encouraged, tricked or forced to take part in criminal activities (like stealing, selling or holding drugs) An example of this is “County lines”; This is where you are exploited to transport drugs from one place to another (it can be from large cities to smaller rural areas, but it could be from one street to another). The ‘county line’ is the mobile phone line used to manage the deals and transportation of the drugs.
See NSPCC criminal exploitation for more information.
Online exploitation
This is like any form of exploitation that can happen with people face to face, but this is happening in the online world, through things like chat, social media and online gaming.
Trafficking and modern slavery
Being tricked, forced or persuaded to leave where you live and then moved or transported from one area to another to work or perform sexual or criminal acts. It can include people being moved from one county to another, but can also include the movement from one town to another.
The DSCP completed work with Children and Young People in 2023 around who they would tell if they were worried they were being exploited or a friend was being exploited. These young people told us that they would tell their friends first about concerns. However they would be worried about sharing information with professionals owing to a concern that this would be breaking a friends trust or they would be called a grass. We want to reassure children that they can report or pass on information about any crime to Fearless. You can do this via the online form or by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. They wont ask who you are, or how you know about the crime, they just want to give you a safe place to give any information you may have, 100% anonymously.
Reporting a concern
Remember, no matter how small the detail, it could be the missing puzzle piece to solving a crime. Your information can make a real difference.
Watch the YouTube video by FearlessORG “Reporting a crime at fearless… how it works”.