Research on child sexual exploitation
February 2012
A reading list of the key research into child sexual exploitation including grooming on the street and online.
Street grooming
What’s going on to safeguard children and young people from sexual exploitation? How local partnerships respond to child sexual exploitation (PDF).
Jago, Sue et al
University of Bedfordshire, 2011
A report reviewing the ways Local Safeguarding Children Boards are protecting children and young people from sexual exploitation. Findings include: LSCBs are failing to protect young people and the current thresholds for intervention through child protection procedures are set too high. Recommendations include: review how the court process impacts on young people, and ensure training for professionals working with young people covers the issue of child sexual exploitation.
Out of mind, out of sight: breaking down the barriers to understanding child sexual exploitation.
Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre, 2011
Investigates street grooming and child sexual exploitation, and aimed to establish whether patterns of offending, victimisation or vulnerability could be identified. Refers to 'localised grooming' only and does not include online grooming or trafficking. Provides an outline of trends, themes and patterns based on six months of research. It looks at prevalence, patterns, interventions, and makes recommendations to improve interventions and reduce risk to children in the future. Found that more than 2000 children were victims of child sexual exploitation. Also available: executive summary (PDF) .
Young people and sexual exploitation: 'It's not hidden, you just aren't looking'.
Pearce, Jenny J.
Routledge, 2009
Explores the difficulties that arise for researchers and practitioners working with sexually exploited young people. The first part explores the historical context of sexual exploitation, identifying how it arose from child prostitution. It looks more closely at current policy framework within the UK, identifying the range of interventions that can be used to support sexually exploited young people. Considers the needs of trafficked children and young people and addresses the links between sexual exploitation and domestic violence, and working with adolescents in violent relationships. Part two looks at risk factors and resilience in sexually exploited young people, and research and young people's participation in the field of sexual exploitation. Explores the therapeutic needs of sexually exploited children and young people.
Gathering evidence of the sexual exploitation of children and young people: a scoping exercise (PDF).
Jago, Sue and Pearce, Jenny
University of Bedfordshire, 2008
Reports on a study commissioned by the government to look at the way local partnerships (including Local Safeguarding Children Boards and police forces) tackle the sexual exploitation of children and young people through the disruption and prosecution of offenders. Covers: the multi-agency approach; the foundation for effective evidence gathering; developing a disruption plan; preparing a prosecution case; and awareness raising, training and guidance.
Reducing the risk: Barnardo's support for sexually exploited young people. A two-year evaluation (PDF).
Scott, Sara and Skidmore, Paula
Barnardo's, [2006]
Report of findings from a two-year project evaluating the services offered by Barnardo's in support of young people who are experiencing sexual exploitation or are at risk of such exploitation. Also available: summary (PDF) .
Who needs to be involved in safeguarding sexually exploited young people?Pearce, Jenny
Child Abuse Review 15(5), Sep/Oct 2006: pp.326-340
Questions whether there are understandings of sexual exploitation that do not fit comfortably within the child protection framework. Draws on case study work with 55 young women who were at risk of, or who experienced sexual exploitation (Pearce et al, 2002). Suggests that some problems facing sexually exploited young people can best be addressed through interventions that draw on child protection, domestic violence and detached youth work policies and procedures.
Freely view abstract or access full text by subscription:
Child Abuse Review 15(5): 326-340
It's someone taking a part of you: a study of young women and sexual exploitation .
Pearce, Jenny, Williams, Mary L. and Galvin, Cristina
National Children's Bureau (NCB), 2002
Based on 55 case studies, conducted in partnership with the NSPCC, considers the choices and opportunities available to young women who are at risk of, or are experiencing, sexual exploitation. Presents young women's accounts of their experiences, identifies three categories of risk: at risk of sexual exploitation; swapping sex for accommodation, money, drugs or other favours 'in kind'; and selling sex, and recommends interventions that could take place at each stage to support the young women concerned. A summary of this report is available: The choice and opportunity project: young women and sexual exploitation (PDF).
Online exploitation
Child pornography and sexual exploitation of children online (PDF).
Quayle, Ethel, Loof, Lars and Palmer, Tink
ECPAT International, [2008]
Examines the potential harms posed to children by new technologies and how to differentiate between sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and commercial sexual exploitation in the online environment. Argues that new media blurs the boundaries between these and provide a context that affords opportunities for both the abuse and the exploitation of children and by children. Considers what is known about adult offending activity online and those who engage in it, and the technologies used.
Children and young persons with abusive and violent experiences connected to cyberspace: challenges for research, rehabilitation, prevention and protection (PDF).
Malmstrom, Cajsa
Swedish Children's Welfare Foundation, 2006
Report of eight presentations given at an expert meeting on assisting young people who have had abusive experiences through communication technologies. Summarises each presentation and highlights overall conclusions. Presentations are: the clinical challenges of internet sexual exploitation; two cases studies analysing the experience of children abused online; experiences raised in clinical practice; victimology of child sexual abuse images; the second youth internet safety survey; the degree of risk taking; risky behaviour on the internet; understanding the problem.
International and internet child sexual abuse and exploitation: research report.
Gallagher, Bernard, Fraser, Claire, Christmann, Kris and Hodgson, Bet
University of Huddersfield, 2006
Reports on research findings into international and internet child sexual abuse (CSA). Focuses on cases known to law enforcement agencies, used questionnaires distributed to police and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC); interviews with policy officers and HMRC staff; and searches of police files and crime recording and reporting systems. Examines the extent of cases of international and internet child sexual abuse which had a link to the UK and were known to law enforcement agencies, the nature of these cases (including victim and offender characteristics) and the implications for policy and practice.
Child sexual exploitation - street grooming, online and trafficking
Cutting them free: how is the UK progressing in protecting its children from sexual exploitation? (PDF).
Barnardo's, 2012
Report setting out the progress of Barnardo's Cut them free campaign and presenting the finding from a survey of their services in the UK. Focuses on what is still needed to protect and support children and young people for sexual exploitation. Outlines progress in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Considers in detail how far the campaign calls have been met in England, following on from
Puppet on a string (2011).
Not a world away: the sexual exploitation of children and young people in Northern Ireland (PDF).
Beckett, Helen
Barnardo's, 2011
Reports on the findings of research into the sexual exploitation of children and young people in Northern Ireland, with a particular focus on the risks present for children in or missing from care. Aims of the research included: to source and collate information on the 'known' extent and nature of the issue; to identify the risks for children in or missing from care; and to explore stakeholder views on how statutory services can better respond to incidences of known or suspected sexual exploitation. Presents quantitative and qualitative findings of the study. Also includes a brief review of the existing body of sexual exploitation literature within the UK and an overview of the legislative and policy context.Puppet on a string: the urgent need to cut children free from sexual exploitation (PDF).
Barnardo's, 2011
Examines what is known about the scale and nature of child sexual exploitation, and provides evidence from Barnardo's services on the developing trends. Considers issues such as child trafficking, internet grooming and peer exploitation. Policy recommendations are focused on England only, but the report draws on experiences in each of the nations to show that this is a UK-wide issue that needs to be taken seriously by governments across the UK. Includes case studies.
Private sector accountability in combating the commercial sexual exploitation of children (PDF).
Hecht, Mark E.
ECPAT International, 2008
A report into the role of the private sector in the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Discusses the definitions of commercial sexual exploitation of children, the private sector and corporate social responsibility. Scopes international law and legal mechanisms that govern the private sector and the roles of human rights, state responsibility and the obligations of multi-national corporations. Examines specific industry sectors: travel and tourism; media; new technologies; and finance.See also our child trafficking homepage .
Research in progress
Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups (CSEGG).
Office of the Children's Commissioner (OCC), 2011
In October 2011, the Office of the Children's Commissioner (OCC) launched a two year inquiry into child sexual exploitation by gangs. The Office is calling for evidence from any professionals, parents or carers who have experience of the issue. An interim report is expected in summer 2012.
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