The list below is produced in a handy, wallet-sized format and distributed to all public servants and other stakeholders working in and around Merseyside

Child Sexual Exploitation
Warning Signs and Vulnerabilities Checklist

The following are typical vulnerabilities in children prior to abuse:

Ø Living in a chaotic or dysfunctional household (including parental substance use, domestic violence, parental mental health issues, parental criminality)
Ø History of abuse (including familial child sexual abuse, risk of forced marriage, risk of ‘honour’-based violence, physical and emotional abuse and neglect)
Ø Recent bereavement or loss
Ø Gang association either through relatives, peers or intimate relationships (in cases of gang-associated CSE only)
Ø Attending school with young people who are sexually exploited
Ø Learning disabilities
Ø Unsure about their sexual orientation or unable to disclose sexual orientation to their families
Ø Friends with young people who are sexually exploited
Ø Homeless
Ø Lacking friends from the same age group
Ø Living in a gang neighbourhood
Ø Living in residential care
Ø Living in hostel, bed and breakfast accommodation or a foyer
Ø Low self-esteem or self-confidence
Ø Young carer

The following signs and behaviour are generally seen in children who are already being sexually exploited:

Ø Missing from home or care
Ø Physical injuries
Ø Drug or alcohol misuse
Ø Involvement in offending
Ø Repeat sexually-transmitted infections, pregnancy and terminations
Ø Absent from school
Ø Change in physical appearance
Ø Evidence of sexual bullying and/or vulnerability through the internet and/or social networking sites Ø Estranged from their family
Ø Receipt of gifts from unknown sources
Ø Recruiting others into exploitative situations
Ø Poor mental health
Ø Self-harm
Ø Thoughts of or attempts at suicide

 Any child displaying several vulnerabilities from the above lists should be considered to be at high risk of sexual exploitation. However, children without pre-existing vulnerabilities can still be sexually exploited so any child showing risk indicators in the second list, but none of the vulnerabilities in the first list, should also be considered as a potential victim.