Plymouth, Torbay, Cornwall and Devon Safeguarding Children Boards and Devon and Cornwall Police have teamed up to promote awareness of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) to parents.

The initiative coincides with Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Day today, March 18, led by national charity National Working Group (NWG).

The aim is to ensure parents are aware of what signs of child sexual exploitation.

CSE involves young people and children being ’groomed’ and sexually exploited. Police say it can take many forms, such as through an apparently ’consensual’ relationship with an older person or a young person having sex in return for attention, gifts, cigarettes or alcohol.

Many young people who are being exploited do not realise they are at risk and will not ask for help. Some may see themselves as willing participants in such abuse, not realising that what is happening to them is illegal.

Police say signs to look out for include:

Has the young person received unexplained gifts or money?

Do they use their mobile phone excessively and/or secretively?

Do they have significantly older friends?

Have they been picked up from home or school by someone you don’t know?

Are they associating with other young people who are already known to be vulnerable or involved in exploitation?

Have they started playing truant from school or regularly going missing from home?

Have they suffered from a sexually-transmitted infection?

Are they self-harming?

Has their appearance changed?

Further information about CSE, spotting the signs and how to get help can be found at the new, joint agency web page: http://www.dc.police.uk/cseawareness/