What is CE?

Any child can be sexually or criminally exploited. It can happen anywhere. 

However many of those who are exploited may be reluctant to disclose offences or seek support, often due to stigma, prejudice, embarrassment, and the fear that they will not be believed or not recognise the exploitation due to the coercion and manipulation used.

Young people are groomed and exploited in many different ways.

This could be online, through street gangs, in religious environments, and by those in positions of authority including celebrities. The common theme in all cases is the imbalance of power and the control exerted on young people by the exploiter/perpetrator.

Those children and young people who are being exploited may appear to be willing accomplices.

This should be seen in the context of the controls exerted by the perpetrator and the submission of the child/young person to them. They are often not accomplices. 

Evidence shows that child exploitation can (and does) happen in all parts of our country.

CE is not restricted to urban areas such as large towns and cities but does in fact happen in rural areas such as villages and coastal areas.