Child sexual exploitation ‘woefully underreported’, warns NSPCC

‘Groomers can give them access to alcohol, to drugs and make them feel grown up, which makes them feel they are choosing those relationships,’ says UK‘s leading children's charity

'Many people interpret this as choices the girls are making rather than recognising them as vulnerable children,' NSPCC policy manager Lisa McCrindle tells The Independent (PA)

Child sexual exploitation is being “woefully underreported,” the NSPCC has warned.

The charity said that manipulative tactics used by offenders mean many child victims are unaware they are being groomed or exploited, and often adults are unable to identify the signs.

NSPCC’s policy manager Lisa McCrindle told The Independent that sophisticated grooming practices mean any child can be vulnerable, as abusers “tap in” to what young people want.

“We often deal with young people at a time in their life when they are easily influenced. Groomers can give them access to alcohol and drugs, and make them feel grown up, which makes them feel they are choosing those relationships, when in reality they are being exploited,” she said.

“Groomers know what they are doing and groomers want to use that against young people who are particularly vulnerable to being groomed. It is abuse, recognised as child abuse, and it needs to be treated as such.”

Efforts to tackle child sexual exploitation have come under the spotlight in recent years following scandals in Rochdale, Rotherham and Oxford.

Earlier in the year, ministers pledged an extra £40 million to help agencies do more to fight sexual abuse, trafficking and exploitation.

However, Ms McCrindle said the very nature of grooming makes it difficult to recognise as groomers often succeed in deceiving both the victim and those around them.

“Many people interpret this as choices the girls are making rather than recognising them as vulnerable children,” she said.

“That’s why it’s so important that there is relationship education in schools, so they know what a good relationship looks like and what an unhealthy abusive relationship looks like.”

It comes days after a report found the “normalisation” of underage sex was exposing children and young people to the risk of sexual abuse.

Research by the Family Education Trust pointed to a culture in which normalises underage sexual activity as part of the reason professionals failed to detect the abuse of young people in Rochdale, Oxfordshire and Rotherham.

NSPCC Chief Executive Peter Wanless said: “Young people will not always recognise that they are being exploited and treated as property.

“We want every child to be able to spot exploitation for what it is and, if they find themselves in danger, know that it is categorically not their fault.

“We are imploring any adult who suspects a child is being exploited to pick up the phone and call the NSPCC Helpline.

“This abuse is sadly still woefully under-reported and, for us to help these children, we need people to speak up.”

The warning from the NSPCC comes ahead of the start of ‘Three Girls’, a new BBC drama based on grooming and sexual abuse cases in Rochdale.