Awareness of "early warning signs" by youth workers would go a long way towards preventing the sexual exploitation of teenagers.
This is the message from It's someone taking a part of you: A study of young women and sexual exploitation, released last week by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Middlesex University, the National Children's Bureau and the NSPCC (YPN, 30 April-6 May, p2). But the fact that the youth service lacks a policy framework might hinder progress.
The report studied 55 girls aged 13 to 18 in two cities in England, who were frequent truants (see panel).
Sexual exploitation by older men was rife, with 22 of the girls claiming to have been raped. Many had older "boyfriends" who were "grooming" them for sex by using cars as an attraction, often targeting care homes and estates.
Early warning signs such as a combination of abuse, truancy, unexplained new clothes, getting into cars or having relationships with older people are some of the indicators outlined in the report.
Report author Jenny Pearce, head of Middlesex University's social policy research centre, says: "Youth workers have access to young people in ways other professionals do not. Recognition of early warning signs would go a long way towards helping to prevent young people from becoming sexually exploited. By listening to conversations, youth workers are often in a prime position to record information on abusers and paedophiles that can be used in court."
Although there is a need for training and support for youth workers to take on this task, they also face dilemmas in confidentiality issues.
The crux of the matter is that there is a gaping hole where an overall policy framework should be.
Mark Lee, children's services manager for the Barnardo's Young Men's project, which is running a campaign against exploitation of teenage boys, says: "As a youth worker, I think there is a lack of clear guidelines and training on the issues, such as confidentiality."
Nasima Patel, the NSPCC's children's services manager, agrees: "The Government is debating child protection laws in Parliament on the back of the Protecting the Public white paper. But the youth service must get its act together to have a proper policy framework in place."
Lucy Titheridge, child protection officer for the NSPCC's Be Free drop-in centre, which helps homeless girls under 18 in central London, adds: "A lot of youth workers believe it is not their job to report issues, or the teenager is exercising their choice in the matter, or they don't know what steps to take.
"Youth workers should not be afraid to exercise their right to request a multi-agency meeting through their local area child protection committee if they see the need for some help. They also need to be able to talk to young people about sex and not avoid the subject."
The report concludes that as well as raising awareness of warning signs, child protection committees, local community safety partnerships and youth and education sectors have a role in identifying the needs of young people at risk.
Prostitution can be a form of sexual exploitation. Children and young people's charity NCH believes 5,000 minors are involved in prostitution at any one time. But a lack of statistics on teenage prostitution from the Home Office means there is little knowledge of the scale of the problem.
Sara Walker, spokeswoman for the English Collective of Prostitutes network, claims the report does not go far enough: "Grooming is a surface issue.
This report does not go into the underlying issues of poverty and lack of resources that drive teenagers into selling sex. Youth and education services are notoriously underfunded and underpaid, and 16 to 18-year-olds receive little benefits or the minimum wage."
A book launched by the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services, Keeping It Safe: Standards and Guidelines, may provide an answer for now.
Amandeep Hothi, development officer for child protection at the council, says: "The book outlines best practice in child protection issues, but it is voluntary. We hope to develop an accreditation scheme to empower people to take up the standards and achieve a kitemark."
- Visit www.ncvys.org.uk for information
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION It's someone taking a part of you: - A study of young women and sexual exploitation reports interviews with 55 young women aged 13 to 18 with histories of truancy over 18 months
Three categories of young women were identified: - 19 were at risk of sexual exploitation - 15 were swapping sex for favours - 21 were selling sex
Overall findings include: - 16 out of 55 have been held against their will for two nights by men referred to as a boyfriend - 22 had experienced rape - 30 used heroin once a week - 34 regularly self-harmed - 18 had attempted suicide - 39 were in violent and abusive relationships - 40 had sexual health problems
