Case reviews highlight that child sexual exploitation (CSE) can be particularly hard for professionals to recognise and respond to. Confusion around young people's rights and their capacity to consent to sexual activity means both young people and professionals often wrongly view exploitative relationships as consensual. This means that sexual exploitation often goes unidentified, and young people can be reluctant to engage with services.
The learning from these reviews highlights that professionals must be aware of the warning signs of potential sexual exploitation and consider the child protection implications of underage sexual activity. Practitioners need to engage with young people and make sure services are child-centred. The focus should be on ensuring young people's safety, protection and wellbeing, rather than managing their challenging or risk-taking behaviour.
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