Child Sexual Exploitation or CSE

The official definition of CSE is;

“Sexual exploitation of children and young people under 18 involves exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where young people (or a third party) receive 'something' (e.g. food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, gifts, money) as a result of them performing sexual activities, and/or others performing sexual activities on them.”

What does that mean?

It means that if you or a friend is having sex, or performing sexual acts, in return for something like alcohol, drugs, money or other gifts then you are being sexually exploited.

It is common for young people to;

• Be persuaded into posting sexual images or videos online to people they think they know
• Be talked into meeting and trusting somebody that they have met online and finding themselves alone and in very dangerous situations
• Be tricked into doing something that they don’t want to do because they think, or are told, they owe that person something in return for their gifts
• Get caught up in something that they think they can’t get out of and carry on down that same road until something really bad happens
• Think that they are in a normal ‘loving’ relationship and not see that they are being sexually exploited

Just Like Me?

If any of the information sounds just like you then remember; it’s not your fault

Do

• Get help – No matter how bad it seems
• Trust your instincts – If something doesn’t feel right don’t do it
• Ask for advice if you’re not sure about something

Don't

• Trust anybody you’ve only met online even if you think you’ve known them for a long time
• Put yourself in a situation where you’re alone within somebody you don’t really know
• Carry on doing something because you feel embarrassed or ashamed – get help

To ask for advice, report it or get help go to