Warning Signs

The process of grooming affects children and young people in different ways. It is not easy for parents to recognise the signs because many could be regarded as ‘normal’ teenage behaviour.

The following list of warning signs is not exhaustive but if you spot them it could indicate that your child is at risk of sexual exploitation.

1.     Emotional health.
2.     Physical health.
3.     Behaviour.
4.     Education.
5.     Identity and presentation.
6.     Family and social relationships.
7.     Possessions.

 

Understanding Sexual Exploitation

A child is a person under the age of 18. Typically, perpetrators target children aged between 11 and 15.

'Sarah became very distant. She stopped eating properly and started losing weight.'

Parent

'Jodie was the sort of girl whose tops were up to her neck. She was really shy. She changed almost overnight...She was suddenly wearing tops with her bust practically out. She wore loads of jewellery and tons of over-the-top make-up.'

Parent

'What was worse was that her personality changed. She’d be a moody teenager sometimes, but nothing out of the ordinary. She became withdrawn, moody and nasty. She said that she hated me; that she was adopted.'

'She denied taking drugs, but she’d sometimes come home and wouldn’t shut up; her eyes would be fully dilated; she’d try to put loud music on in her bedroom and she wouldn’t go to sleep until five or six in the morning. Then she’d be in bed all day and get depressed.'

Parent

'She kept being ill all the time with colds. She looked really run down; her skin changed; her hair changed. I knew that wasn’t normal.'

Parent