“Children are being sexually exploited in Jersey” - Police

Wednesday 18 March 2015

Police have revealed that three cases of suspected sexual abuse of children were reported every fortnight in Jersey last year.

The police say that the sexual exploitation of children can happen in any community, and say that serious concerns about kids at risk of exploitation are being regularly reported in the Island.

They say that 76 cases of suspected exploitation of children – when people under 18 are manipulated or coerced into sexual activity – were reported in Jersey last year, or around three per fortnight.

And they say that in the last year 254 young people have been reported going missing 392 times – one of the key indicators that they are being exploited for sex.

Detective Superintendent Stewart Gull said the victims in the cases were often manipulated into thinking that there was nothing wrong with what they were doing – and that the crime was happening here in Jersey.

He said: “Child sexual exploitation is such a sensitive subject and a type of crime that people may think would not happen in Jersey. The awareness day is to remind people that it can happen anywhere and we all have a duty to protect our young people from this kind of exploitation.

“Child sexual exploitation victims often do not see themselves as victims but rather in a loving relationship, they do not recognise they are being controlled by a manipulative individual and the reality of how they feel is usually something quite different.”

The States of Jersey Police are working with other agencies to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation – they are airing three commercials, a feature-length video, launching a hashtag on Twitter, and have run a poster campaign and seminars for professionals who work with young people.

Det Supt Gull said: “I would like everyone to watch the videos, look at the posters or talk to one of the agencies so they know all about CSE and if they are then ever concerned about a young person they know what the signs are and most importantly how to get them help.”

Information about warning signs and where to get help is all available at http://www.jersey.police.uk.