City of Wolverhampton Council has issued guidance on how to recognise the stages of grooming, to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation (CSE).
The regional “See me, hear me” campaign is encouraging young people and their parents to make themselves aware of how grooming can develop, to help safeguard youngsters from what is often a “hidden” crime.
The council advises that CSE can affect any child, regardless of their gender, social or ethnic background – it is also child abuse and can involve perpetrators grooming their victims in various ways, including in person, or via mobiles or online, in order to gain their trust before emotionally and sexually abusing them.
City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Val Gibson, said:
“Child sexual exploitation is a truly horrendous crime – and because of the tactics offenders use, young people may not understand they are being groomed.
“We want to raise awareness of how the grooming process develops, so they – and the people around them – can spot if they are at risk and know how to get help.
“Safeguarding children is everyone's business – we all need to increase our awareness, so we can play our part in helping to keep youngsters safe.
“Please visit our campaign website See me, hear me for more information and to see what you can do to help protect our children and young people.”
The council warns that grooming of a young person can take place in stages over a period, from a few days to several years – the early stages can mirror the development of a healthy relationship, but the certain signs can help people identify the need to get help.
During the initial targeting phase, the abuser will look to develop and gain the young person's trust, start befriending them, take an interest in them and give them compliments and gifts.
As this develops into a friendship, the groomer will make the young person feel special by spending time with them, offering protection, introducing “keeping secrets”, testing out physical contact and giving gifts and rewards.
Once they have established trust, the groomer then asserts themselves as the boyfriend or girlfriend, attempting to mirror a loving relationship – they will start to establish a sexual relationship, perhaps introducing the young person to clubs, drinks and drugs and begin lowering their inhibitions, perhaps through showing them pornography.
The abuser may also position themselves as the only one who understands the young person, demonising and isolating them from friends and family who might try and intervene.
As this turns into the abusive relationship stage, there is the withdrawal of love and friendship – threatening behaviour, physical violence and sexual assaults increase and at the same time the young person is isolated from their family.
Chief Executive of Solihull Council and regional lead for CSE, Nick Page, said:
“We want every child to be able to spot exploitation for what it is – and, if they find themselves in danger, know it is not their fault.
“By its very nature, this form of child abuse is often hidden – many young people who are affected don't realise they are a victim and will not ask for help.
“We should all make ourselves aware of the signs, so we can identify if a young person could be at risk and report any concerns. Visit See me, hear me for more information.”
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