Embargo: for publication after 00.01hrs Wednesday 30th April 2003
Early danger signs ‘can be used to prevent sexual exploitation of young women’

“Getting into boys’ cars…I used to get into anyone’s car, but I never had sex with them or nothing like that. I just went for cruises or pictures.” Gemma, age 17

Better understanding of early-warning signs that teenagers are being ‘groomed’ by men for sexual exploitation is needed to prevent them being drawn into prostitution and violent abuse, according to a study for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Based on interviews and support work with 13- to 18-year-olds, the report suggests ways that schools and other agencies could collaborate to offer more effective protection.

Action research carried out in partnership between Middlesex University and the NSPCC involved 55 teenagers in London and a northern city who were either ‘at risk’ or already selling sex. The young women described problems so complex that it was difficult to isolate one reason they had became vulnerable.

The participants had all truanted regularly from school and a majority had been in care or ‘looked after’ by their local authority. Nearly all of them had run away from home or care at some time. All reported problems with alcohol, and most (30) also used heroin at least once a week. More than a third (22) had been raped and 40 had problems with sexual health. In addition, all but eight of the teenagers had experienced physical or sexual abuse within their families. Many had regularly harmed themselves, including 18 who had attempted suicide. The researchers found they could place participants in three broad categories:

• At risk of sexual exploitation. “I shagged 26 blokes in seven months. I’m not worried about AIDS.” Mel, age 16.
  This group included young women who engaged in provocative, risky sexual behaviour and were in many cases involved with older, abusive ‘boyfriends’ who appeared to be grooming them for prostitution. Eleven of the 19 teenagers in this category reported getting into men’s cars, which they described as a way of alleviating depression.
• Swapping sex for favours. “What he did to me really hurt me, but in a way, I do forgive him because I love this boy deep down in my heart.” Tracy, age 17. The 15 teenagers in this category described how they had exchanged sex for accommodation, money or drugs. All had run away from home, and their search for somewhere to stay placed them at risk. Most of these young women spoke of love-hate relationships with violent and manipulative, older men. These relationships were similar to those of adults experiencing domestic violence. Seven young women described being held against their will for two or more nights, including five who had been raped. In total, 16 of the 55 young women had been abducted, 15 of whom were held against their will by men they referred to as their ‘boyfriend’.
• Selling sex. “I could only get money otherwise by robbing people.” Janine, age 16. There were 21 young women, aged 16 to 18, who defined themselves as prostitutes, including 19 heroin users. Sixteen were in relationships with violent men. Nine said they had started selling sex to pay for drugs, while another six had been coerced by a boyfriend to finance his drug habit. Three said they had started selling sex as a result of a traumatic event such as being raped. Despite having the most problems at any one time, teenagers in this group were the most isolated from education, health and social services.

Jenny Pearce, Head of the Social Policy Research Centre, Middlesex University and author of the report, said differences between the three groups showed there was scope for early prevention and support services to protect young women at risk from being drawn deeper into abusive relationships and sexual exploitation. She said: “We saw a clear improvement in the circumstances of some of the young women we spoke to when schools, pupil referral units and educational welfare services had taken notice of the early-warning signs and offered timely support. That is why we think it important that more practitioners should understand and recognise the complicated as well as distressing circumstances that make these young women so vulnerable.”

She added: “Education services can take a lead in helping to identify those who are most at risk of sexual exploitation. But they need support from other social work professionals and from local drug and domestic violence projects in finding multiple solutions to the multiple problems that these young women face.

“While most local Area Child Protection Committees across the country are actively involved in reaching out to the young people at risk, we also need a clear focus on gathering evidence against those who abuse them.”

All who took part in the research were offered support through specialist NSPCC outreach projects. The report emphasises that such work can be dangerous as well as emotionally demanding - and that staff need good support themselves to maintain relationships with young women who are often suspicious or hostile towards service providers.

NSPCC project manager, Nasima Patel said: “Time and again we find that integrated working is the top recommendation that comes up when exploring ways of best protecting children from abuse. These teenage girls are trapped in a nightmare scenario either on the streets or hidden behind closed doors, preyed upon by pimps and other abusers. Statutory bodies and voluntary agencies must find creative and effective ways of reaching out to provide them with the help they so desperately need. Despite their adult-like sexualised behaviour these are children who need protection, stability and care. By recognising the warning signs, professionals and the public can be someone to turn to for young people at risk of sexual exploitation.”

Note to editors
‘It’s someone taking a part of you’: A study of young women and sexual exploitation by Jenny Pearce with Mary Williams and Christina Galvin is published for the Foundation by the National Children’s Bureau, 8 Wakley Street, London EC1V 7QE (020 7843 6029) price £12.95 plus £3 p&p. Or online at www.ncb-books.org.uk.

A summary of findings is available here.

NB: A selection of three case histories from the report can be found at the bottom of this release.

For further information, contact:
Jenny Pearce (author)
Jayne Ifeacho (NSPCC Media Officer) 020-7825 2712 (office)
Michael Brown (Middlesex University Press Office) 020-8411 6761 (office)

Issued by David Utting, Associate Director (Public Affairs) 020-7278 9665 / 07930 313790 / david.utting@jrf.org.uk

Case Histories
These three case histories are taken from the report. (The names given for the young women who spoke to the researchers are fictitious):

At risk of sexual exploitation
‘Gemma’, age 17, frequently ran away from home where she was physically abused by her father (who had severe mental health problems) and her brother. After going through eight care placements in 18 months, she attempted suicide with an overdose of painkillers and was developing anorexia. She first started getting into men’s cars as a way of finding relief from her depression. She was often picked up after midnight by two men who appeared to have targeted her care home. Intensive support from staff at the home helped her to settle down for a while, but she was moved on to another placement after pulling a knife on a member of staff.

Swapping sex for favours
‘Anya’, age 14, ran away from home and agreed to have sex with a man in his 30s she did not know in return for somewhere to stay. While there, she was asked to sleep with other men and was encouraged to bring other girls to the flat. She decided to move on after another young woman told her that the man she thought was her boyfriend was a ‘sex dealer’. With careful support from a voluntary agency project and social services Anya not only managed to return home, but also reported the man to the police.

Selling sex
‘Kerry’ age 17, had been known to social services since her early teens after revealing she was raped by a family member as a child. She started swapping sex for accommodation when she was 14. When running away from home she was abducted, raped and physically attacked. She acquired two significant ‘boyfriends’ who were both heroin users and encouraged her to sell sex for money. When first interviewed she had convictions for mugging and credit card robbery and was working for a 51-year old man. Shortly after her 18th birthday she was sent to prison for soliciting and theft.