Something's Not Right : Home

Children and young people have a right to be safe and should be protected from all forms of abuse. It’s everyone’s responsibility to spot the signs of child exploitation and protect children and young people in Warwickshire.

There are lots of different kinds of exploitation:

Online Exploitation

People who use the internet to groom and exploit children and young people via social media and gaming sites

Child Sexual Exploitation

When a young person is encouraged, or forced, to take part in sexual activity in exchange for something

Criminal Exploitation

When someone is manipulated to commit crimes such as shoplifting, drug dealing and pickpocketing

County Lines

Organised crimes where criminals, often based in urban areas, pressurise vulnerable young people to transport, store and sell drugs into other towns

Opportunistic

This type of exploitation can happen very quickly. Children can be offered accommodation, money, lifts, drugs, alcohol etc in exchange for sexual activity

Peer Exploitation

This may happen with a group of friends. It can often happen quite publicly and images and videos are often circulated around school

Organised Exploitation

When a group of offenders work together to force children to have sex with multiple adults

Human Trafficking

A form of modern slavery - the movement of people by force, fraud and deception with the aim of exploiting them

Labour Exploitation

When people are forced to work for little or no pay and are often threatened with punishment

Domestic Servitude

Someone who works within their employer’s home but their freedom is restricted, often working long hours for little pay

Child Sexual Abuse

When a child is enticed or forced to take part in sexual activities

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Exploitation affects hundreds of children and young people every year in Warwickshire. By knowing the tell-tale signs, we can all play an important role in reducing that number.

What to look out for:

receiving unexplained and expensive gifts or money
having no money but in possession of cigarettes, alcohol and other expensive items (could be a sign of running up debt)
having new and significantly older friends
being picked up from school by strangers
substance use (drugs / alcohol)
changes in mood
showing signs of self-harm
regularly going missing from school and home
staying out late
being secretive about where they are going
being secretive with their mobile phone, laptop, tablet or other electronic devices
lack of interest in activities and hobbies

If this sounds familiar or you think this may be happening to someone you know, please get help by calling 01926 414144 between 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday or report it to Warwickshire Police via their website or calling them on 101.

If someone is in immediate danger, always call 999.

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