A review by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) of its contributions to 28 serious case reviews (SCRs) between August 2013 and September 2014 highlights the difficulties faced by professionals in identifying and helping CSE victims.
It found that children with pre-existing vulnerabilities as a result of issues such as violence within the family, or substance abuse, can be targets of CSE because they are less likely to disclose information or be protected by adults.
The Cafcass report also reveals that victims may believe they are entering into consensual relationships – describing their abusers as "boyfriends".
“This can lead to cases of exploitation being overlooked as authorities may misunderstand the coercive elements of these relationships,” the report states.
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