Child Care Solicitors

Birmingham City Council has launched a campaign to tackle the grooming and sexual exploitation of boys and young men.

The campaign encourages people to see the risks, not the gender – and play their part in helping to tackle child sexual exploitation (CSE).

The campaign highlights that CSE can happen to boys, as well as girls – but CSE against boys can be a “hidden” crime.

However, boys could be abused by male or female offenders and face particular challenges to speaking out. Boys are also likely to fear not being believed – or judgements being made about their sexuality or masculinity.

Birmingham City Council says that the regional see me, hear me campaign is highlighting the abuse can happen to anyone – regardless of their gender.

The campaign follows the conclusion of a court case in the West Midlands on 6 July, which resulted in ten men being sentenced for committing historical sexual offences against two young men, who were both sexually exploited in their teens.

West Midlands councils and West Midlands Police are working together to raise awareness of CSE across the region – with campaign website www.seeme-hearme.org.uk offering a one-stop shop for information about CSE and how to spot the warning signs, along with help and advice for young people, parents and carers, professionals and schools.

Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet Member for children’s services, Brigid Jones, said:

“Child sexual exploitation is a horrendous crime and young men and boys can be vulnerable to it – we all need to increase our awareness of CSE, know the signs of grooming and be aware it can happen to boys and young men, as well as girls and young women.

“Preventing CSE is everyone’s responsibility – and I would urge people to visit our campaign website to find out more and see what they can do to help protect our children and young people.”

The campaign also highlights that CSE can affect any child regardless of their gender, social or ethnic background – and that CSE is child abuse and involves perpetrators grooming their victims in various ways, such as in person, via mobiles or online, to gain their trust before emotionally and sexually abusing them.

The campaign also highlights how perpetrators of CSE can use different tactics, whether through a seemingly consensual relationship – or a young person being forced to have sex in return for some kind of payment, such as drugs, money, gifts or even protection and affection.

Warning signs of CSE include having friends who are older, persistently going missing, secretive relationships with unknown adults, truancy from school, chronic fatigue, changes in behaviour, constant calls on a mobile phone and new possessions or sums of money.

Chief executive of Solihull Council and regional lead for CSE, Nick Page, added:

“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.

“This recent court case highlights how horrific this crime is – and so we must all play our part in tackling the abuse. Through our see me hear me campaign, we want people to know it can happen to anyone, regardless of their gender.

“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.”

Duncan Lewis Children Lawyers

Duncan Lewis children lawyers can advise on a wide range of family and child care matters, including child abuse within the family.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and our specialist children lawyers advise on family and child care matters under the laws of England and Wales and Islamic law, including:

• Adoption
• Child care arrangements
• Child maintenance
• Civil Partnerships
• Co-parenting agreements
• Court Orders
• Court of Protection
• Divorce
• Domestic violence
• Dowry disputes
• FGM
• Forced marriage
• Guardianship
• Honour crimes
• International child abduction
• International marriage and divorce
• Islamic marriage and divorce
• Parental responsibility
• Pre-proceedings meetings
• Section 38 enquiries
• Separation agreements
• Spouse abandonment
• Surrogacy
• Wardship
• Wills and trusts.

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of Legal Aid solicitors.

For expert legal advice on family law and child care matters, call Duncan Lewis child care solicitors on 0333 772 0409.