“Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is a form of child sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate, or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. CSE does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology”

Co-operating to Safeguard Children and Young People in Northern Ireland

Any child or young person under the age of eighteen, regardless of gender, can be a victim of CSE regardless of their family background or other circumstances, including those who have reached the legal age of consent.

CSE is often a concealed form of abuse, where children and young people may not recognise that they are being harmed. Many have been groomed into trusting the person exploiting them, who could be a stranger, peer, or even someone close to them. This grooming may involve emotional manipulation, gifts, or financial incentives, creating a sense of dependency that makes it difficult for the child or young person to speak out.

Additionally, some children and young people are trafficked, either into or within the UK, for the purpose of sexual exploitation. These experiences often intersect with other forms of harm, requiring a coordinated, trauma-informed safeguarding response.

Regardless of how CSE occurs, it can have a profound and lasting impact on a child or young person’s emotional, psychological, and physical wellbeing.