Pan Cheshire CSE Protocol

1PAN CHESHIRE CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION MULTI-AGENCY OPERATING PROTOCOL | 2015 - 2017
PAN CHESHIRE
CHILD SEXUAL
EXPLOITATION
OPERATING PROTOCOL
2015 - 2017

2 PAN CHESHIRE CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION MULTI-AGENCY OPERATING PROTOCOL | 2015 - 2017
Contents
Introduction 3
What Is Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)? 4
Young People’s definition of CSE 4
Gangs and Groups 5
Gang Associate 5
Types of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) 5
Boyfriend Model 6
Organised/Networked Sexual Exploitation or Trafficking 6
Inappropriate relationships 6
Familial 7
Opportunistic 7
On-Line CSE 7
Key Principles 9
Role Of Multi-Agency Partners In Identifying And Challenging CSE 10
Process For New Cases 11
CSE Referral Pathway 13
Appendices 15
APPENDIX A - CSE Warning Signs 15
APPENDIX B - Groups At Increased Risk Of CSE 16
APPENDIX C - Information Sharing 18
APPENDIX D - Cheshire Principles for CSE Operational Meetings 21
APPENDIX E - Pan Cheshire Child Sexual Exploitation Screening Tool 23
APPENDIX F - Legislation 31

Introduction
In fulfilling their function of developing policies and procedures, Local Safeguarding
Children Board’s (LSCB) should ensure that specific local procedures are in place
covering the sexual exploitation of children and young people.
This operating protocol sets out a multi-agency procedure for tackling child sexual
exploitation across Cheshire. We recognise that only a proactive, co-ordinated, multi-
agency approach will be effective in disrupting child sexual exploitation and prosecuting
perpetrators.
This operating protocol for safeguarding children who are abused or at risk of abuse
through Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) draws on:
• Working Together to Safeguard Children (DfE 2015),
• Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation (DCSF,
2009),
• Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation Action Plan (DfE, 2011)
• I thought I was the only one. The only one in the world: The Office of the
Children’s Commissioner’s Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs
and Groups, (OCC 2012).
• Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham, (Alexis
Jay OBE 2014)
• Real Voices Child Sexual Exploitation in Greater Manchester ( Anne Coffey
MP 2014)
• Report of Inspection of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (Louise
Casey February CB 2015)
This protocol aligns with local arrangements to safeguard children, and sets out a
clear pathway by which to ensure all organisations unify to provide the best
service possible for children and young people either at risk of sexual exploitation
or who have experienced sexual exploitation in Cheshire.
In support of this protocol, on 3rd March 2015, The Prime Minister announced new
measures to tackle child sexual exploitation including the joint commitment to share
information effectively for the protection of children and prioritising sexual abuse as a
national threat.
There are many developments in each of the Cheshire Local Authority areas around
CSE and therefore practitioners should ensure that they follow their own individual
local processes which can be located on the relevant LSCB websites.

What Is Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)?
The Cheshire LSCB’s has adopted the definition of sexual exploitation that is set out in
statutory guidance:
“Sexual exploitation is child abuse and children and young people
who become involved face huge risks to their physical, emotional
and psychological health and well-being.”
Sexualexploitationofchildrenandyoungpeopleunder18involvesexploitativesituations,
contexts and relationships where young people (or a third person or persons) receive
‘something’ (e.g. food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, attention,
gifts, money) as a result of them performing, or others performing on them, sexual acts
or activities. Child sexual exploitation grooming can occur through the use of technology
without the child’s immediate recognition; for example being persuaded to post sexual
images on the Internet/mobile phones without immediate payment or gain. In all cases,
those exploiting the child/young person have power over them by virtue of their age,
gender, intellect, physical strength and/or economic or other resources. Violence,
coercion and intimidation are common, involvement in exploitative relationships being
characterised in the main by the child or young person’s limited availability of choice
resulting from their social/economic and/or emotional vulnerability.
(The Department of Children, Schools and Families and the Home Office, July 2009)
Young People’s definition of CSE
“Someone taking advantage of you sexually, for their own benefit.
Through threats, bribes, violence, humiliation, or by telling you that
they love you, they will have the power to get you to do sexual things
for their own, or other people’s benefit or enjoyment (including:
touching or kissing private parts, sex, taking sexual photos).”

Gangs and Groups
The Office of the Children’s Commissioner has defined CSE in gangs and groups in its
2013 report. This includes:
• Gangs – mainly comprising men and boys aged 13-25 years old, who take
part in many forms of criminal activity (e.g. knife crime or robbery) who
can engage in violence against other gangs, and who have identifiable
markers, for example a territory, a name, or sometimes clothing.
• Groups – involves people who come together in person or online for
the purpose of setting up, co-ordinating and/or taking part in the sexual
exploitation of children in either an organised or opportunistic way.
Gang Associate
An individual can be gang associated for one or more of the following reasons. They:
• Offend with or for gang members, either willingly or through coercion or
exploitation but do not identify themselves as a gang member and there is
no other corroborative information that they are a gang member.
• Associate with gang members. This is known by police, partner agencies
and/or community intelligence.
• Have shown, through their conduct or behaviour, a specific desire or intent
to become a member of a gang.
• They are a family member, friend or are otherwise connected to a gang
member, but are not a gang member themselves.
Young people associated with a gang are at risk of being sexually exploited by that
gang. Sexual violence may result because rape and sexual assault is carried out as
part of a conflict between rival gangs, for example the sister of a gang member may
be raped as a way of attacking her brother by proxy. Sexual violence may be used as
a form of punishment to fellow gang members and/or a means of gaining status within
the hierarchy of the gang.
Types of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
The act of CSE is generally a hidden activity and is much more likely to occur in
private dwellings than in public venues. However, the act or method of coercion by
the perpetrator(s) can take place on the streets. The following examples describe the
different types of exploitation offender’s use and how children can be coerced.

Boyfriend Model
Here the offender befriends and grooms a young person into a ‘relationship’ and then
coerces or forces them to have sex with friends or associates. The boyfriend may be
significantly older than the victim, but not always.
Peer on Peer Exploitation
Young people can be sexually exploited by people of a similar age as well as adults.
Research is increasingly demonstrating that a significant number of sexually exploited
young people have been abused by their peers .Young people can be exploited by
their peers in a number of ways. In some cases both young women and young men,
who have been exploited themselves by adults or peers, will recruit other young people
to be abused. In other instances, sexual bullying in schools and other social settings
can result in the sexual exploitation of young people by their peers. Sexual exploitation
also occurs within and between street gangs, where sex is used in exchange for safety,
protection, drugs and simply belonging. For 16 and 17 year olds who are in abusive
relationships, what may appear to be a case of domestic violence may also involve
sexual exploitation. In all cases of peer-on-peer exploitation, a power imbalance will
still inform the relationship, but this inequality will not necessarily be the result of an
age gap between the abuser and the abused.
Organised/Networked Sexual Exploitation or Trafficking
Young people (often connected) are passed through networks, possibly over
geographical distances, between towns and cities where they may be forced/coerced
into sexual activity with multiple men. Often this occurs at ‘parties’ and young people
who are involved may recruit others into the network. Some of this activity is described
as serious organised crime and can involve the organised ‘buying and selling’ of young
people by offenders. Organised exploitation varies from spontaneous networking
between groups of offenders, to more serious organised crime where young people
are effectively ‘sold’.
Children are known to be trafficked for sexual exploitation and this can occur anywhere
within the UK, across local authority boundaries and across international borders.
Inappropriate relationships
These usually involve one offender who has inappropriate power or control over a
young person (physical, emotional or financial). One indicator may be a significant age
gap. The young person may believe they are in a loving relationship.

Familial
Young people can be individually exploited, or it may also involve other family members.
The motivation is often financial and can involve substance use. Parents or family
members control and facilitate the exploitation.
Opportunistic
This may occur quickly and without any form of grooming. Typically older males identify
vulnerable young people who may already have a history of being groomed or sexually
abused. The perpetrator will offer a young person a ‘reward’ or payment in exchange
for sexual acts. The perpetrator is often linked with a network of abusive adults.
On-Line CSE
New technologies and social networking tools and platforms, chat rooms, dating
sites or online gaming, present further opportunities for social interaction. They also
bring new risks and increase the opportunity for offenders to target vulnerable young
people. Offenders access social media platforms, for example, Facebook, Blackberry
messaging (BBM) and Twitter to identify young people whom they can groom.
Technology can facilitate sexual exploitation of children. Where abusive images have
been posted on, or shared via, the internet, there is little control over who can access
them. This can lead to repeat victimisation. The NWG Network 2013 study, If you Shine
a Light you will probably find it, also identified that GPS technology available for mobile
devices can be used to identify the location where a photograph was taken, which may
increase the risk to the victim. The software can be downloaded freely and provides
the coordinates of where the digital image was taken, to within a matter of yards.
CSE can occur through the use of technology without the child realising it. For example,
a child or young person is persuaded to post images of themselves on the internet and/
or mobile phones. In some cases, the images are subsequently used as a bargaining
tool by the perpetrators and threats of violence and intimidation are used as methods
of coercion.
Offenders may use technology to exploit children and young people in the following
ways:
• Harassment and bullying through text messaging.
• Purchasing mobile phones for victims and sharing their numbers among

group or gang members.
• Randomly contacting children via social networking sites.
• Using ‘friends’ lists on networking sites of known victims to target children
and young people.
• Viewing extreme or violent pornography and discussing it during sexual
assaults.
• Posting images of victims with rival gang members to invite a sexual assault
as punishment.
• Filming and distributing incidents of rape and sexual violence.
• Distributing lists of children for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
The Child Exploitation On-line Protection (CEOP) Thinkuknow website www.
thinkuknow.co.uk provides information for children and young people on how they
can protect themselves online. Parents, carers and teachers can also use the website
to understand how they can help to protect children in their care while they are using
the internet.
Within Cheshire we have developed a dedicated website www.knowandsee.co.uk
This includes stories from young people and key messages for children and parents.

Key Principles
Work to tackle sexual exploitation should be grounded in a number of key principles:
A child centred approach – focussing on the child’s needs and involving them in
decision making whilst acknowledging that they may not recognise they are in a
situation of exploitation or abuse
• Parenting, family life and services – where interventions are necessary,
they should support families in making their own plans for the welfare and
protection of their children, as long as this is consistent with the safety and
welfare of the child
• The rights of children and young people – the UK Government is a
signatory to the Council of Europe Convention on the protection of Children
against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
• Responsibility for criminal acts – sexual exploitation of children and
young people should not be regarded as a criminal act by the child or
young person, but as child sexual abuse, where the responsibility lies with
the abuser.
• An integrated approach – plans for safeguarding and promoting each
child’s welfare should be based on a wide ranging assessment of the
needs of the child and their family and wider circumstances, and local work
to address the issue of sexual exploitation should be integrated into wider
work such as through the Strategic Plans.
• A shared responsibility –Leadership from LSCB’s to ensure a shared
understanding and effective co-ordination across partners.
• Prevention and early intervention – prevention strategies should be
regarded as a key part of agencies’ approaches to sexual exploitation.
• Sharing Information - To proactively share information with partner
agencies in order to act in a timely manner
• Voice of the Child - To engage with children and young people to
understand local concerns and issues, to develop our prevention, tactical
and strategies responses.

Role Of Multi-Agency Partners In Identifying And Challenging CSE
Multi-Agency Partners come together from the statutory, voluntary, community and
faith sectors. They should follow recognised principles to safeguard and protect the
welfare of children and young people. Identifying the early warning signs associated
with CSE is vital in reinforcing these principles. To assist all front-line practitioners in
identifying and remembering the signs, the mnemonic S.A.F.E.G.U.A.R.D. has been
created and is shown at Appendix A.
Multi-Agency Partners will be involved in meetings/discussions to share all relevant
intelligence and information in all cases where CSE is suspected. This is to ensure
there is an co-ordinated approach which could include instigating interventions or to
disrupt and prosecute perpetrators.
The multi-agency meetings/discussions will call upon the diverse skills and experience
available from its members to manage the threat posed by CSE. Members should
challenge partners, when appropriate, to ensure the best outcomes for the child or
young person.
Objectives
• Identify those who are at risk of being sexually exploited by sharing
information at an early stage and assessing risk
• To carry out risk assessment according to a common framework
• To address the risks associated with victims, perpetrators and locations
by proactive problem solving
• To work collaboratively to ensure the safeguarding and welfare of children
and young people who are being or are at risk of being sexually exploited
• To take effective action against those intent on abusing and exploiting
children and young people in this way
• To provide early intervention to reduce the harm posed to children
and young people
• To investigate, prosecute and disrupt perpetrators
• Promote positive physical and emotional health and well- being of
individuals identified as being at risk of child sexual exploitation
• To develop a shared picture of child sexual exploitation intelligence across
Cheshire

Process For New Cases
Agencies must take action to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and
young people who may be sexually exploited.
Where a worker becomes aware or concerned that a child is being sexually exploited
they should make a record of their observations and concerns and discuss their
concerns with their line manager or the agencies person who has safeguarding children
/ child protection responsibilities or the agencies child sexual exploitation coordinator /
lead professional.
A child or young person who is suspected of suffering or being at risk of suffering
sexual exploitation will be a child in need as per Section 17 of the Children Act 1989
and may also be suffering or at risk of suffering significant harm.
Advice can be sought from Children’s Social Care and / or the police, this does not
necessarily mean that those agencies will consider this contact as a referral and such
contact can be undertaken without directly naming the child or young person.
Anyone who suspects that a child is being sexually exploited, or is at risk of being
sexually exploited must make a referral to Children’s Social Care and fill in the CSE
screening tool. (See local practice guidance for further information). CSE Teams
or Operational meetings will run alongside the safeguarding process to ensure all
information in relation to CSE is collated at a central point.
On accepting a referral, Children’s Social Care will conduct an assessment.
Where it appears that the significant harm threshold may be met and/or a criminal
offence committed against the child, then, in accordance with the Pan Cheshire
Safeguarding Children Procedures, a strategy discussion will be arranged to discuss
the next steps, which may include undertaking a joint investigation, initiating a Sec 47
enquiry and a criminal investigation and taking emergency action to safeguard the
child, but may also decide that an initial process of engagement with the child is the
appropriate next step. (See local practice guidance for further information).
If the child suspected of suffering or being at risk of suffering sexual exploitation is a
Child in Care under Section 20, section 31 or section 38 of the Children Act 1989 the
child’s allocated social worker and allocated Independent Reviewing Officer must be
informed.
Where the significant harm threshold has not been met then a multi-agency meeting
should be called and attended by all those workers who work with or are in close
contact with the child / family.
The purpose of this meeting is to share / exchange information and to identify appropriate
support etc. for the child / family.

Children in Care:
It can be difficult to ascertain which CSE team / operational group should discuss the
case if a child in care is placed outside of the host authority. This protocol directs that
the case should be discussed by the CSE group where the young person is living. The
police representative on the CSE group which covers the address for the young person
is responsible for making links with other relevant CSE operational groups and the out
of area social care representative to ensure information across areas is brought to the
meeting. The child’s allocated Social Worker and Independent Reviewing Officer must
be informed.
Links to other CSE Operational Groups:
The relevant CSE operational chair will ensure all cross border issues and appropriate
information are highlighted promptly to other relevant local authority areas.

CSE Referral Pathway
Where child sexual exploitation, or the risk of it, is suspected, frontline practitioners should
complete the Pan Cheshire CSE Screening Tool. (Accessed via the LSCB websites) A referral
MUST be made to Children’s Services using the screening tool via the appropriate routes within
the local authorities’ levels of need. The relevant front door will review all information and the level
of risk may be amended, either higher or lower from that presented in the referral. If appropriate
this will be passed on to the CSE Team / Operational group
For concerns around location or adults a referral / information sharing form should be complete
(accessed via the LSCB websites) and sent to the CSE Operational Group/Team it should include a
copy of the completed screening tool
In all cases: Social Care Front door to submit Information Sharing Form and Screening Tool to
Safeguarding Unit and Police PPU.
LOW RISK MEDIUM RISK HIGH RISK
CAF or TAF case to be
considered for
Inclusion on the CSE
Group Agenda
Child in Need Assessment
Strategy Discussion
Section 47
NO YES
Child in Need Plan
NO YES
Child in Need Reviews
Risk Management Plan
to be incorporated into
the child’s planning and
review process
Child Subject
of a CSE Risk
Management Plan
NO YES
Request for CSE Risk
Management Meeting/
conference

For Local Authorities with a CSE Team
When Children’s Social Care front door receive concerns regarding child sexual
exploitation they will notify the CSE Team by way of forwarding the CSE Screening
tool / referral information to the CSE Team secure mailbox. The CSE Team will then
share any relevant information with Children’s Social Care front door to help inform
their recommendation.
Open Cases
Where concerns arise on cases already open to Children’s Social Care, the allocated
social worker will take responsibility to ensure the screening tool is completed and
forward this to the CSE secure mailbox as a means of notifying the CSE Team.
Children in Care placed out of area / Children in Care other Local Authority
When a child is placed out of area and begins to disclose information relating to CSE
then the allocated Social Worker is responsible for ensuring that the information
is shared with the CSE Team for intelligence purposes. The Social Worker should
consider whether a referral to the CSE Operational Group is also required.
When a child is placed out of area and concerns become apparent that the child may be
vulnerable to or at risk of CSE within the area they are placed, then the Social Worker
should liaise with appropriate professionals/agencies local to the child, ensuring that
a CSE Screening Tool is completed and then seek appropriate support and resources
within that area. In addition, the Social Worker should notify the CSE Team of the
concerns.
Where agencies become aware of CSE concerns relating to a child who is in the care of
another Local Authority but currently placed in the Cheshire area, they should complete
the CSE Screening tool and notify Children’s Social Care front door. Children’s Social
Care front door will record the concerns on a Contact Record and notify the CSE
Team who will then liaise with the allocated Social Worker to ensure that information is
shared and the CSE risks are appropriately managed.
Further information about the structure and process of the individual Local Authority
CSE teams should be sought from the relevant LSCB website.

Appendices
APPENDIX A - CSE Warning Signs
CSE Warning Signs
Often children and young people who are victims of sexual exploitation do not recognise
that they are being abused. There are a number of warning signs that can indicate a
child may be being groomed for sexual exploitation and behaviours that can indicate
that a child is being sexually exploited. To assist you in remembering and assessing
these signs and behaviours we have created the mnemonic ‘SAFEGUARD’.

APPENDIX B - Groups At Increased Risk Of CSE
• There is a recognised link that children who go missing (particularly from
Care) and children associated with gangs are more vulnerable to being
sexually exploited.
• Over 1200 missing person incidents were reported in Cheshire last year.
Almost a quarter of these were children reported missing from care. This
results in thousands of hours of police time being used in reporting the child
missing, tracing the child, returning them to care and then debriefing them. It is
strongly recommended relationships with local care homes are instigated for
early identification of potential CSE victims.
• Children who are already deemed vulnerable, particularly children looked after
by the local authority, are at disproportionate risk of being sexually exploited.
Children Looked After are the responsibility of the Local Authority
where they are ordinarily resident (Responsible Authority). If, as may
oftenbethecase,theyareplacedoutsideoftheResponsibleAuthority
area they then become the responsibility of the Host Authority for
many services e.g. education health.The Responsible Authority
has the continued responsibility to provide a social work service to
the child and to independently review those care arrangements. The
role of the Independent Reviewing Officer is central in such cases
with a duty to scrutinise the child/young person’s care plan and
make sure there is a thorough risk assessment with
appropriate links to local support agencies. The allocated social
worker should establish the name and contact details for the CSE
lead in the Host Authority so that it can be included in the care plan
for help and assistance as appropriate.
• In some cases children may be drawn into sexual exploitation by peers who
are already involved. Girls in particular can be coerced into sexual exploitation
by an older man, who poses as, and who they view as their boyfriend.
• Children who have suffered a bereavement or some other form of trauma
may also be vulnerable and an increased risk to being sexually exploited.
• There is a link between trafficked children and CSE. Children are frequently
trafficked for sexual exploitation and this can occur within the UK and
across local authority boundaries.
“Trafficking in Persons” of children and young people under-18 is
defined as that which: ‘The recruitment, transportation, transfer,

harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force
or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the
abuse of power, or a position of vulnerability, or the giving or receiving of
payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control
over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall
include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or
other forms of sexual
exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar
to slavery,
servitude or the removal or organs’. (Article 3 UN Protocol to Prevent,
Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially women and
children, supplementing the UN Convention Against Transnational
Organisational Crime. This is also commonly referred to as ‘the
Palermo Protocol’)
• Disabledchildren-astheirdisabilityincreasestheycouldbecomemorevulnerable
and children with learning difficulties should also be seen as vulnerable.
• Children with low self-esteem as they are more vulnerable to being targeted by
exploiters.
• There is an overlap between the definitions of CSE and domestic abuse,
particularly in relation to peer abuse and lone perpetrator models. Children
aged between 16-18 years are particularly vulnerable to both CSE and being
caught up in relationships where abuse may occur. Each case should be initially
assessed through the child sexual exploitation protocol described here and
receive a child protection response, but decisions about the best policy and
intervention will vary for individual young people. Careful consideration
should be given to which framework would offer the most appropriate
response to the victim, for example it may be better for a young person to
be referred to a specialist domestic abuse service but it is important that
children and young people are assessed within a child protection filter in the
first instance.
Missing children
Missing children and young people may be at increased risk of CSE and should be
reported as missing to police at the earliest opportunity. Once a missing child is located,
it is important that they are spoken to, to identify any risks the child has been exposed
to. There are two stages to the process, the Police Safe and Well Check and the Return
Interview. Please refer to the Missing from Home and Care Protocol via the LSCB websites.

APPENDIX C - Information Sharing
Principles of Information Sharing
Effective information sharing underpins integrated working and is a vital element of
both early intervention and safeguarding. Each partner can hold different pieces of
information which need to be placed together to enable a thorough assessment to be
made.
To share information about a person you need a clear and legitimate purpose to do so,
as this will determine whether the information sharing is lawful. For partners working
in statutory services, the sharing of information must be included within the powers of
the service. This will also apply if partners from the voluntary sector are contracted to
provide a service on behalf of a statutory body.
Key Messages
• The welfare of a child or young person must be the first consideration in all
decision making about information sharing
• Professionals can only work together to safeguard and promote the welfare
of children and young people if they share relevant information
• Only share as much information as is needed but share enough to achieve
the purpose for which information is being shared
• Recognise that where a child, young person or family needs the support
of a number of different agencies, information sharing will be an ongoing
process.
• It is best practice to obtain consent to share information, although there are
exceptions to this in child protection cases, for example, situations where
a child would be considered to be at risk of significant harm or a Police
investigation into a serious offence would be prejudiced
Obtaining and sharing information
The sharing of information must have due consideration with the law relating to
confidentiality, data protection and human rights. Having a legitimate purpose for
sharing information is an important part of meeting those legal requirements. It is
important only to share as much information as is needed and records should be
accurate, relevant and up to date.

Sharing information appropriately and securely
Information should be shared in accordance with the principles of the Data Protection
Act 1998 and follow the policy and procedures of the signatory service.
Practitioners should:
• Only share the information which is necessary for the purpose
• Understand the limits of any consent given, particularly if it is from a third
party
• Distinguish between fact and opinion
• Only share it with the person or people who need to know and check that
the information is accurate and up to date
• Record decisions on sharing information and the reasons for doing so or
not
• If deciding to share the information, record what was shared and with whom

Flowchart of when and how to share information

APPENDIX D - Cheshire Principles for CSE Operational Meetings
Introduction
The Operational Group has three primary functions:
• To ensure that all children at risk of sexual exploitation
»» Are identified and acknowledged
»» Have a lead professional supporting them
»» Have an effective safeguarding plan in place.
• To ensure that all cases are considered by a single multi agency group who
are then able to identify any links between individual cases.
• To ensure that intelligence relating to patterns of abuse and risk can be
identified and action taken where necessary. This will include the sharing
of intelligence relating to:
»» Victims
»» Perpetrators
»» Locations
The Group will be victim focused and it will not duplicate or replace the functions of
statutory child protection processes in relation to individual children.
NB The Group is not an emergency response and does not replace existing
safeguarding procedures for the investigation of child protection concerns or
individual case planning.

It will achieve its objectives by:
• Identifying children in Cheshire who are victims and/or at risk of sexual
exploitation and/or trafficking and ensuring that they are referred into the
appropriate agency and managed at the appropriate level.
• Identifying individuals responsible for perpetrating child sexual exploitation
and trafficking and links and networks between individuals and those who
harbour children.
• Identifying locations where CSE is taking place.
• Tasking group members with actions to achieve the overall aims of the
groups in relation children, perpetrators and locations identified.
• Having identified those most at risk, monitoring the multi-agency response
to that risk, ensuring that existing child protection processes are being
used to protect them.
Family and Victim Participation:
• The Group is a professionals meeting held to discuss strategies to achieve
the objectives of the group. Victims and their carers will not be invited to
attend and will not routinely be informed of discussions.
• The meetings share sensitive and confidential information about suspected
perpetrators and potentially a number of children who they may be involved
with.
• Information may only be shared by members with other professionals
within their own organisation.
• Any sharing of information with victims or their families may only take
place with the agreement of the Chair(s) of the Group and to ensure the
protection of a child from further harm.
Information may be shared via the chair(s) with the chairs of counterpart meetings in
other Local Authorities areas to ensure that links between potential abusers across the
North West and beyond are recognised and actioned.

APPENDIX E - Pan Cheshire Child Sexual Exploitation Screening Tool

This screening tool should be used by all professionals working with children aged
10+. Professionals may also decide it is appropriate to use the tool to screen younger
children as nationally children as young as 8 years old have been found to be abused
in this way. Boys as well as girls are abused through CSE.
This screening tool will help you focus on the specific indicators of sexual exploitation
and determine whether further investigations are needed. The tool could be used in
supervision, in discussions with parents and carers, with other professionals and with
the child/ young person.
Many of the indicators of child sexual exploitation are also part of normal teenage
behaviours and it is the presence of higher risk factors or multiple other factors which
may be indications of child sexual exploitation. Where a child is aged 13 years old
or younger the presence of any one high risk factor must be seen as a potential
indicator of sexual exploitation.
Professionals need to exercise their own judgement when completing the tool.
This includes capturing concerns about which they have some evidence AND concerns
based on their “gut feelings”. Staff should differentiate between the two and explain
this in the notes section.
Where child sexual exploitation is suspected the worker should discuss their concerns
with their manager and should also inform their agency’s lead professional who will be
monitoring the bigger picture for any emerging patterns.
Professionals should feel free to use the tool creatively, including as part of awareness
raising work with children or in engaging parents and carers in understanding the
issues.
Where child sexual exploitation, or the risk of it, is suspected, frontline practitioners
should complete the Pan Cheshire CSE Screening Tool and discuss the case with
a manager or the designated member of staff for child protection within their own
organisation. If after discussion there remain concerns, a referral MUST be made to
Children’s Services using the screening tool via the appropriate routes within the local

authorities’ levels of need. (Contacts on the back page)
When practitioners have concerns that a child is linked to a perpetrator(s) or other
young people at risk of CSE or has concerns about a location or adult a referral to the
CSE Operational Group/Team (via your local information form) must also be completed
and should include a copy of the completed screening tool.
Child’s Surname: Child’s forenames:
Address(es) of child:
Dob: Date completed:
Name and job title of person completing: Organisation:
E-mail: Telephone:
Name of Lead Professional: ( this should be
the social worker where the child is known
to CSC)
Telephone / E-Mail for Lead Professional:
On completion this form must be sent to the agency lead professional (e.g. social worker), if there is
one and to Duty and Assessment team. Please note if there is a concern that the lead professional
has not responded to you in respect of any concerns identified for this young person the escalation
process must be followed.
On completion a copy of this form should be sent to the following parties for review:
Cheshire Children’s services
Cheshire East - checs@cheshireeast.gov.uk.cjsm.net
Cheshire West and Chester –Level 4 cases only
cart@cheshirewestandcheshire.gcsx.gov.uk
Cheshire West and Chester –Level 3 cases
ESAT esatsecuremail@cheshirewestandchester.gcsx.gov.uk
Warrington - childreferral@warrington.gcsx.gov.uk
Halton - contactandreferralteam@halton.gcsx.gov.uk
Lead Professional:

When completing the screening tool you must use your own judgement as factors such as the child’s
age, any additional vulnerabilities, their history, etc, may mean that what for another child would be
low level, for that child is high level. Workers should feel free to amend the suggested level using that
judgement.You can either indicate the level of risk using High/medium/low or simply tick the box if the
risk element is present (you may wish to use more ticks where the risk is higher.
Remember, this tool is to help you make a professional assessment and you should not feel constrained
by the format. Record your rationale in the notes boxes.
Health Domain
Yes
No
Possible

Yes
No
Possible
Physical injuries such as bruising,
suggesting of either physical or
sexual assault
Change in appearance, including
losing weight, putting on weight

A sexually transmitted infection
(STI), particularly if it is recurring or
there are multiple STI’s
Evidence of misuse of drugs /
alcohol, including associated health
problems
Pregnancy and / or seeking an
abortion
Thoughts of or attempted suicide

Sexually risky behaviour Eating disorder
Self-harming Learning Disability
Analysis - How is the risk being addressed and what is being done?
Behaviour Domain
Yes
No
Possible

Yes
No
Possible
Sexually offending behaviour

Hostility in relationship with parents
/ carers and other family members
Truancy/disengagement with
education or considerable change
in performance at school

Volatile behaviour, exhibiting
extreme array of mood swings or
abusive language which is unusual
for the child
Aggressive or violent, including to
pets/animals
Detachment from age-appropriate
activities
Becoming angry/ hostile if any
suspicions or concerns about their
activities are expressed
Physical aggression towards
parents, siblings, pets, teachers or
peers

Known to be sexually active Low self-image, low self-esteem
Young offender or anti-social
behaviour
Sexualised language
Getting involved in petty crime such
as shoplifting or stealing
Secretive behaviour
Grooming Domain
Yes
No
Possible

Yes
No
Possible
Entering or leaving vehicles driven
by unknown adults
Excessive use of mobile phones,
including receiving calls late at night
Reports that the child/young person
has been seen in places known to
be used for sexual exploitation
Associating with other young people
who are known to be sexually
exploited, including in school
Unexplained relationships with
older adults
Sexual relationship with a
significantly older person
Phone calls, texts or letters from
unknown adults
Mobile phone being answered by
unknown adult
Inappropriate use of the Internet and
forming relationships, particularly
with adults, via the Internet. Note:
adults may pose as peers to entrap
the child

Having new mobile phone, several
mobile phones and/or SIM cards,
especially Blackberry or iPhone
(because messages cannot be
traced). Always have credit on their
mobile phones, despite having no
access to money or having no credit
so phone can only be used for
incoming calls

Accounts of social activities with no
plausible explanation of the source
of necessary funding
Acquisition of expensive or sexual
clothes, mobile phone or other
possession without plausible
explanation
Having keys to premises other than
those they should have
Possession of money with no
plausible explanation
Recruiting others into sexual
exploitation
Seen at public toilets known for
cottaging or adult venues (pubs and
clubs)
Adults loitering outside the child/
young person’s usual place of
residence or school
Leaving home/care setting in
clothing unusual for the individual
child (inappropriate for age,
borrowing clothes from older young
people)
Wearing an unusual amount
of clothing (due to hiding more
sexualised clothing underneath or
hiding their body)`
Persistently missing, staying out
overnight or returning late with no
plausible explanation
Returning after having been
missing, looking well cared for in
spite of having no known home
base
Returning after having been missing
looking dirty, dishevelled, tired,
hungry, thirsty
Missing for long periods with
no known home base and / or
homeless
Possession of excessive numbers
of condoms
New contacts with people outside
of town
Is there any evidence to suggest
that adults identified with the
individual may be known to other
departments of the local authority?
This might include business
operators (food businesses,
licensed premises, hotel premises,
taxi trade etc.) If so please provide
business and/or individual name
or other distinguishing information
(vehicle licence plate/taxi licence
plate)

Family and Social Domain
Yes
No
Possible

Yes
No
Possible
A family member or known
associate working in the adult sex
trade
Unsure about their sexual
orientation or unable to disclose
sexual orientation to their family
History of physical, sexual and/or
emotional abuse; neglect
Witness to domestic violence at
home
Parental difficulties; drug and
alcohol misuse; mental health
problems; physical or learning
difficulty. Being a young carer
Conflict at home around boundaries,
including staying out late

Living in hostel, BB or Foyer
accommodation
Pattern of street homelessness or
sofa surfing
Recent bereavement or loss

Gang association either through
relatives, peers or intimate
relationships
Lacking friends their own age Living in a gang neighbourhood
E Safety Domain
Yes
No
Possible

Yes
No
Possible
Evidence of sexual bullying and/
or vulnerability through Internet or
social networking sites
Concern that inappropriate images
of a young person are being
circulated via the Internet/phones
Exchanging inappropriate images
for cash, credits or other items

Receiving gifts through the post
from someone the young person
does not known

Concern that a young person is
being coerced to provide sexually
explicit images
being bribed by someone for their
inappropriate online activity
selling sexual services via the
Internet
Accessing dating agencies via
mobile phones (e.g. 2 flirt line)

Unexplained increased mobile
phone / gaming credits
Going online during the night

Being secretive, using mobile
phone for accessing websites, etc.,
more than computers
Unwilling to share / show online or
phone contacts
Concerns that a young person’s
online friendship has developed
into an offline relationship
having an online relationship
Sharing of inappropriate images
amongst friends
New contacts with people outside of
town
Spending increasing amount of
time on social networking sites
including Facebook or on shared
gaming sites
Spending increasing amount of
time with online friends and less
time with friends from school or
neighbourhood
Increased time on webcam,
especially if in bedroom
Looked After Children Domain
Yes
No
Possible

Yes
No
Possible
Living in residential care Frequently missing from placement
Multiple placement breakdown Going missing with other children

What is the level of risk for this
child?
High
Medium
Low
Explain your reasons:

Please also provide any relevant addresses (if known) of incidents, other relevant family
members or potential perpetrators. These can include residential addresses, public buildings
business addresses, schools or youth groups that may be relevant to the case:
Address Reason for inclusion (incident location or name of
occupant)
Submit to the relevant Children’s social care contact point
ChECS Team – checs@cheshireeast.gov.uk.cjsm.net
CART - CART@cheshirewestandcheshire.gcsx.gov.uk
esatsecuremail@cheshirewestandchester.gcsx.gov.uk
Duty and assessment – childreferral@warrington.gcsx.gov.uk
CART - contactandreferralteam@halton.gcsx.gov.uk
For perpetrators or locations please submit to relevant Public Protection Unit and CSE
Operational group:
For Halton and Warrington northern.ppu@cheshire.pnn.police.uk
For Cheshire West and Cheshire western.ppu@cheshire.pnn.police.uk
For Cheshire East eastern.ppu@cheshire.pnn.police.uk

APPENDIX F - Legislation
• The Sexual Offences Act 2003 introduced a range of offences that
recognised the grooming, coercion and control of children.
• section 14 arranging or facilitating a child sex offence (child under 16)
section 15 meeting a child following sexual grooming (child under 16)
section 47 paying for the sexual services of a child
• section 48 causing or inciting child prostitution or pornography
• section 49 controlling a child prostitute or a child involved in pornography
section 50 arranging or facilitating child prostitution or pornography
section 57, section 58 and section 59 trafficking into, within or out of the
UK for sexual exploitation.
The Act includes three broad categories of sexual offences against children.
Offences against children under the age of 13 (ss 5 to 8)
Sexual activity with a child under the age of 13 is an offence regardless of consent or
the defendant’s belief of the child’s age. The offences are:
• Rape.
• Assault by penetration.
• Sexual assault.
• Causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.
The offences carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment or 14 years’ imprisonment,
depending on which offence applies.
Offences against children under the age of 16 (ss 9 to 15)
These offences apply regardless of whether the child consented to the sexual activity
but, unlike the offences relating to children under 13, an offence is not committed if the
defendant reasonably believed that the victim was 16 years or over. The offences are:
• Sexual activity with a child.
• Causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
• Engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

• Causing a child to watch a sexual act.
• Arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.
• Meeting a child following sexual grooming (under s 15 an offence is
committed if an adult meets or communicates with a child on at least two
previous occasions, and then meets the child, arranges to meet the child
or (the adult or child) travels for such a meeting, where the adult intends to
commit a sexual offence).
These offences carry a minimum sentence of 10 or 14 years’ imprisonment, depending
on which offence applies. Where the offender is under 18, the maximum sentence is
5 years’ imprisonment. If any of these offences is committed against a child under 13,
the defendant’s belief of the age of the child is irrelevant.
Offences against children under the age of 18
There are a number of sexual offences in the Act that apply to all children under the age
of 18. These include sexual offences where there is abuse of a position of trust (ss 16
to 24) and familial child sex offences (ss 25 to 29).
When children and young people who are at risk of CSE are found at repeat locations,
orders such as the Child Abduction Notices (formerly known as Harbourer’s Warnings)
should be considered.
The Act also provides for offences specifically to tackle the use of children in the sex
industry, where a child is under 18 (ss 47 to 50). These offences are:
• Paying for sexual services of a child.
• Causing or inciting child prostitution or pornography.
• Controlling a child prostitute or a child involved in pornography.
• Arranging or facilitating child prostitution or pornography.
Other legislative Acts and Orders
The following Orders, Warnings and Notices can be used to help disrupt the exploitation
of children and young people:

Sexual Harm Prevention Order (Mar 2015)
The new sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) will replace the sexual offences
prevention order and foreign travel order and may be made in relation to a person who
has been convicted of or cautioned for a sexual or violent offence (including equivalent
offences committed overseas) and who poses a risk of sexual harm to the public.
The SHPO may be made by a court on conviction for a sexual or violent offence, or
by the magistrates’ court on application by the police or NCA. A court may impose an
order for the purposes of protecting the public in the UK and/or children or vulnerable
adults abroad from sexual harm.
An order may prohibit the person from doing anything described in it – this includes
preventing travel overseas. Any prohibition must be necessary for protecting the
public in the UK from sexual harm or, in relation to foreign travel, protecting children or
vulnerable adults from sexual harm.
A SHPO will make the person subject to the notification requirements for registered
sex offenders for the duration of the order (that is, it puts them on the ‘sex offenders’
register’), if they are not already.
ASHPO lasts a minimum of five years and has no maximum duration, with the exception
of any foreign travel restrictions which, if applicable, must be renewed after five years.
In line with the existing position, breach of an order is a criminal offence punishable
by a maximum of five years’ imprisonment, the criminal standard of proof continues to
apply, the person concerned is able to appeal against the making of the order, and the
police or the person concerned are able to apply for the order to be varied, renewed
or discharged.
Sexual Risk Order (Mar 2015)
The new sexual risk order (SRO) will replace the risk of sexual harm order and may be
made in relation to a person without a conviction for a sexual or violent offence (or any
offence), but who poses a risk of sexual harm.
The SRO may be made by the magistrates’ court on application, by the police or NCA,
where an individual has done an act of a sexual nature and as a result poses a risk of
harm to the public in the UK or adults or vulnerable children overseas.
“Acts of a sexual nature” are not defined in legislation, and therefore will depend to a
significant degree on the individual circumstances of the behaviour and its context.
The term intentionally covers a broad range of behaviour. Such behaviour may, in other
circumstances and contexts, have innocent intentions. It also covers acts that may not

in themselves be sexual but which have a sexual motive and/or are intended to allow
the perpetrator to move on to sexual abuse.
As an indication, it is expected that examples of such behaviour might include the
following (note that this list is not exhaustive or prescriptive, and will depend on the
circumstances of the individual case):
Those specified acts that were set out for the purposes of the previous Risk of Sexual
Harm Order (some of which may be criminal in their own right), which included:
• Engaging in sexual activity involving a child or in the presence of a child.
• Causing or inciting a child to watch a person engaging in sexual activity or
to look at a moving or still image that is sexual.
• Giving a child anything that relates to sexual activity or contains a reference
to such activity.
• Communicating with a child, where any part of the communication is sexual.
Acts which may be suggestive of grooming (see section below), such as:
• Contacting a child via social media.
• Spending time with children alone.
• Acts which may be suggestive of exploitation, such as:
• Inviting young people to social gatherings that involve predominantly older
men or women.
• Providing presents, drink, and drugs to young people.
• Persuading young people to do things that they are not comfortable with
and which they had not expected.
Acts which may be carried out in a gang or group of individuals of similar ages,
‘peer-on-peer’.
A SRO may prohibit the person from doing anything described in it – this includes
preventing travel overseas. Any prohibition must be necessary for protecting the
public in the UK from sexual harm or, in relation to foreign travel, protecting children or
vulnerable adults from sexual harm.
An individual subject to a SRO is required to notify the police of their name and home

address within three days of the order being made, and also to notify any changes to
this information within three days (see SRO notification form attached).
A SRO lasts a minimum of two years and has no maximum duration, with the exception
of any foreign travel restrictions which, if applicable, last for a maximum of five years
(but may be renewed).
As with the SHPO, breach of an order is a criminal offence punishable by a maximum of
five years’ imprisonment. The criminal standard of proof continues to apply, the person
concerned is able to appeal against the making of the order, and the police or the
person concerned are able to apply for the order to be varied, renewed or discharged.
A breach of SRO will make the person subject to FULL notification requirements.
Child Abduction Warning Notices (formerly known as Harbourer’s Warning
Notices)
Tackling those incidences where young people under the age of 16 years (under
18 if in local authority care) place themselves at risk of significant harm due to their
associations and the forming of inappropriate relationships. Sometimes this is with
individuals who are much older than themselves.
The issuing of a Child Abduction Warning Notice is a valuable safeguarding measure
to:
• To reduce repeat incidences of such children being missing from the care
of those responsible for their welfare.
• To reduce risk that such children are being exposed to.
• To set out a clear, graduated and proportionate response to such cases.
• To set out a clear procedure for the issue and audit of Child Abduction
Warning Notices so that they are evidentially viable and sound in terms of
potential prosecution.
• To adopt a problem solving approach to reducing instances of missing from
home.

Links to other orders include:
• Police Protection – s 46 of the Children Act 1989.
• The Magistrates’ Courts (Foreign Travel Orders) Rules 2004 – see also ss
114 to 122 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
• Harassment Warnings (Police Information Notices). - see also http://www.
acpo.police.uk/documents/crime/2009/200908CRISAH01.pdf
• Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/
ukpga/2003/38/contents
Hotel Notices
• Home Office (2014) Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill Fact
sheet: Child sexual exploitation at hotels
• The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provide three new
provisions for the investigation of child sexual exploitation offences. Ss
116, 117 and 118 allow the police to issue a notice requiring the owner,
operator or manager of relevant accommodation to disclose information
where intelligence indicates the premises are being or have been used for
the purpose of child sexual exploitation. This includes preparatory or other
activities connected to child sexual exploitation.
The police, where they reasonably believe child sexual exploitation is taking place,
can request the owner, operator or manager to provide information about their guests.
This includes the name and address, and other relevant information, e.g. age. The
information supplied can be used as intelligence to support the investigation of any
criminal offences which may have been or are being committed on the premises,
thereby helping to identify paedophile rings and other organised groups involved in
child sexual exploitation.

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