Splintered Lives - Barnardo's

There are a variety of ways in which children/young people can be vulnerable to sexual
exploitation; all connect in direct and indirect ways to the position of children within
societies more generally, and have to be understood in the context of complex social
relationships. In other words, all children are vulnerable, but additional factors may
increase the likelihood either that they are targeted or have limited alternatives. These
include:
�� having to fend for oneself before one has rights to adult employment or income
maintenance (this would include runaways and street children);
�� extreme poverty, deprivation or social dislocation;
�� lack of adult support, understanding and care;
�� belonging to a family/social network in which sexual exploitation occurs;
�� viewing the sex industry as a kind of rebellion/form of freedom.
The routes in always involve others, either adult organisers of sexual exploitation or
other children/young people. The direct routes in include:
�� the use of children within families;
�� the targeting of particular children within their own neighbourhood or everyday
activities by abuse networks;
�� the targeting of residential children's homes;
�� the targeting of major transport termini for young runaways;
�� the setting up of children/young people already being exploited to recruit
others;
�� social contact with other children/young people who are involved;
�� various forms of trafficking including abduction, false adoption, direct purchase,
and deception in relation to paid work opportunities.
These factors, either in various combinations, or with one being a critical factor, appear
to account for the majority of children's involvements in sexual exploitation. For
example, Nigel O'Mara, founded member of Streetwise, has written about his
involvement stemming from escaping abuse within his family. He was 'on the street' at
14; at the time it seemed the only way to survive. Detective Chief Inspector Gaspar,
senior officer in 'Operation Hedgerow' (quoted in Redding, 1989) reports on boys who
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