I'm worried about exploitation
Exploitation is never your fault
Even if you went along with things at first. Abusers are very clever in the way they manipulate young people.
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is a type of sexual abuse, when you are made or tricked into doing something sexual sometimes receiving something in return like love, affection, money, drugs or alcohol.
Need help or more information:-
- Faceup2it - information and advice about CSE for young people, developed by young people.
- Disrespect Nobody - campaign about health relationships and respect.
- Barnardos - Real Love Rocks - raising awareness around Child Sexual Exploitation and what a health and safe relationship is.
Criminal Exploitation
Criminal Exploitation includes gang crime and county lines. A gang may claim control over territory in a community, and engaging either individually or collectively in violent behaviour or other types of criminal activity.
County lines is when gangs and organised crime networks groom and exploit children to sell drugs. They may make you travel across counties, and they use dedicated mobile phone 'lines' to supply drugs.
If you have become involved in a gang, are being pressurised to engage in county lines activity and want help to get out of that lifestyle, the website below can offer support. You can report exploitation (of yourself or a friend) to the Police on 101 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. If you are on a train or in a station you can text British Transport Police on 61016.
Need help or more information:-
Trafficking/Modern Slavery
Trafficking is where children and young people are tricked, forced or persuaded to leave their homes and are moved or transported and then exploited, forced to work or sold.
It can happen to anyone. You could only be taken next door or down the road - it's still classed as trafficking.
Need help or more information?
- Modern Slavery helpline - You can call the 24/7 Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700 for free support. They will offer you advice on your situation and on your options for getting out, if you want to.
- Advice for Young People - A leaflet produced by the NSPCC Child Trafficking Advice Centre (CTAC) Young People's Advisory Group
Online Exploitation
Being aware of the risk of technology, social media and the internet can play a massive part in helping you stay safe and avoid online exploitation, abuse or bullying. Check out our staying safe online page for information on privacy settings, what to do if you receive indecent images and how to game online safely.
Need help or more information?
Indecent Images - Know the Law
Taking, making, sharing and possessing indecent images and pseudo-photographs of people under 18 is illegal. It does not matter how old they look, looking at indecent images of under 18s is illegal. Remember, those images are of real children and young people, and viewing them causes further harm. The Home Office has published guidance to help young people understand the law on making and sharing indecent images of people under 18 years old.
Is she Legal? - Video
What should you do if you come across indecent images?
If you stumble across indecent images of children under 18 online, you can help by reporting it to the Internet Watch Foundation.
Consent
Consent means agreeing to do something. When it comes to sex, this means someone agreeing to take part in a sexual activity. Any sort of sexual contact without consent is illegal whatever the age of the people involved. If someone does not give consent and a person still engages in a sexual act with them, this is sexual assault or rape.
For more information on consent - click here
Say no to nudes
If you have ever been asked to send photos of yourself that you are not comfortable with, and you do not know how to respond, there is a greet new app to help. Zipit has a load of images and animations which you can send in response to deal with a situation before it gets out of hand, and it stops you being put in an awkward position. Check out Molly's video on how to handle the pressure of being asked for nudes.