A charity has warned more support is needed to protect children from sexual exploitation in Dundee after it emerged some as young as 10 have been targeted in Scotland.
He said, “Child sexual exploitation is a key child protection issue and has been described as the UK’s biggest hidden child protection problem.
“The dangers have been intensified by the widespread use of social media. It is extremely worrying that there is no current research on the extent of exploitation in Scotland.
“My motion welcomes the ongoing campaign on the issue and calls for research to be commissioned by the Scottish Government to ascertain the full scale of the problem in Scotland, as well as calling for guidelines to be updated.
“The role of a teacher, parent, friend, social worker or guardian, as confidants, can be the first vital step in getting help and support.
“We must all work together to discover the extent of child exploitation in Scotland so that we can redouble our efforts to tackle it head-on.”
Last week the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre said research had found at least 2000 children in the UK are at risk of sexual exploitation.
“It is only by proactively looking for child exploitation that agencies are able to identify and support victims, and this requires a long-term co-ordinated approach,” it said.
“Child sexual exploitation is child sex abuse-no matter who carries out the act, no matter the background of the offender. The effects are devastating and abuse can continue into adulthood.
“We need to focus on that and break down the barriers that stop any child from coming forward.”
Barnardo’s Scotland’s Fighting Against Child Exploitation (FACE) service works with children in Dundee at risk of sexual exploitation where someone under the age of 18 is encouraged to engage in sexual activity for payment of cash or in kind.
In some cases, serious, organised crime may be involved in trafficking those as young as 10.
An older adult will shower a younger girl or boy with affection in an attempt to isolate them from their friends and family.
The perpetrator may then encourage their victim to experiment with drugs or alcohol in order to ensure they become totally dependent on the abuser. Once this happens they can then demand the victim has sex with their friends for money.
Barnardo’s says trafficking of children is more common as organised grooming has become more sophisticated, with abusers often using the internet and mobile phones.
The charity claims the average age of those at risk of exploitation has fallen from 15 to 13 but the charity claims its specialist services have worked with some as young as 10.
The FACE project, based at Barnardo’s Polepark Family Services in Dundee, is working with 15 young people at risk of sexual exploitation, and has another 10 on its waiting list.
Derek Gray, children’s service manager at Polepark, said, “We continue to receive a steadynumber of referrals. Another two workers in the service would enable us to support more young people and help to keep them safe from sexual exploitation.
“It’s not just about increasing resources, though. We need all agencies to gain a better understanding of sexual exploitation, the scale or potential in Dundee, the risks young people face, including through internet and mobile phone use, and increased working together to combat the hideous abuse which sexual exploitation is.”
In May Barnardo’s Scotland issued a petition to the Scottish Parliament calling on the government to commission new research on the nature and scope of sexual exploitation in Scotland as the most current guidance on the issue dates back to 2003.
Assistant director for services in Tayside Irene McGugan said, “Robust research in this area will help us understand the true scale and nature of the problem of child sexual exploitation.
“This will not only help organisations like Barnardo’s Scotland and the police to tackle the problem more effectively, it will also help us provide proper support systems for the victims, ensuring they get the help they need and limit potential long term effects.
“We hope the public get behind the important campaign so we can send a powerful message to the government to act now.”
Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick has backed the call and tabled his own motion at parliament.
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