EXPLOITATION is when someone takes advantage of a child for their own profit or gain. It can take different forms. This includes:

• Child criminal exploitation – when a child is manipulated or pressured to take part in criminal activity, including selling drugs.
• Child sexual exploitation – a type of sexual abuse where someone is coerced, manipulated or pressured into sexual activity (this might be in exchange for gifts, affection, money or social status).

Both types of exploitation can be hard for a child to recognise and they may not understand that they are being coerced.

This extract is from Action for Children and there is more information about how to talk to your child about the risks and help them to protect themselves on their site. Action For Children

Ivison Trust (formerly Pace) is a national charity working to keep children safe from exploitation by supporting their parents, disrupting the exploiters and working in partnership with police and family services.

If you are worried your child is at risk of being tricked, forced, or made to work in the criminal world please speak to a member of staff and visit Get Safe for help and information.