Disabled children THREE times more likely to be sexually exploited

Children at risk of sexual exploitation could be missed, because frontline workers are stereotyping potentional victims.

That's according to a new report by Banardos published today, claiming that diversity of victims isn't being properly recognised.

'It's not on the radar' shows that disabled children are three times more likely to be at risk of sexual exploitation.

Children exploring their sexuality were found to be more likely to be groomed online.

It recognises that high profile cases like Rotherham and Rochdale have produced a stereotype that victims are likely to be white, young females and perpetrators males.

Wendy Shepherd, who runs the Sexual Exploitation project with Barnados in Middlesbrough is calling for better training of staff who deal with these vulnerable groups.

She said: "We can't just focus on white British girls as being the victims of sexual exploitation, it's much wider than that.

"Young men and boys are also at risk of sexual exploitation, as are young people from different ethnic and minority backgrounds, particularly asylum seekers and refugees.

"When you've looked at places like Oxford, Rotherham and Rochdale, it looks like the abuse is happened by Asian men and it's to white British girls.

"We can't focus on one area of sexual exploitation.

"We have to specifically target workers who're working with those groups.

"We need to ensure that where there is a particular vulnerability, there's additional training so those signs are being recognised."

Barnardo’s chief executive, Javed Khan said: “This horrific form of child abuse can affect any child or young person. One in five children we help in our own services are male victims of this crime. “Assumptions must not be made when trying to identify sexual exploitation as each victim has their own vulnerabilities. Recognising the diversity of victims will help ensure they are identified and get the right support.”

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