Child sexual exploitation: a guide for health practitioners
Guidelines for health practitioners on identifying and responding to a child or young person who may be at risk of or affected by sexual exploitation.
Part of
5. Barriers to disclosing
"It was just the norm for me sort of so I didn't think anything was sort of wrong with what was going on until I'd gotten older." [4]
Due to the complex nature of this abuse, a child or young person may not be willing to disclose that he/she is being exploited. Reasons for not disclosing include:
- Not being aware that they are being exploited (for instance they may feel that there are in a consensual relationship with a perpetrator). Although often older, the perpetrator may be of similar age to the victim.
- Fear that perceived benefits of exploitation may outweigh the risks e.g. loss of: supply of alcohol, drugs; the "relationship" and associated "love" and attention;
- Fear of retribution or that situation could get worse;
- Fear of violence within exploitative relationship;
- Shame;
- Fear of not being believed;
- Fear of labelling e.g. as a prostitute or gay;
- Fear of separation from family ;
- Loss of control; fear of Police involvement and court proceedings.
"I didn't want to cause anyone any distress, and I certainly didn't want to be err, found out. I suppose. And so, that's why I only told them a very small part of the story to start with, And that, the reaction to that was bad enough, so I umm, I would never have considered police involvement. Even if I was old enough to think about it." [5]
Contact
Email: Katrina McDonald
Phone: 0300 244 4000 - Central Enquiry Unit
The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG