Fermanagh PSNI working to prevent child sexual exploitation

In an interview with The Impartial Reporter, Detective Sergeant Joanne Jackson outlined what work the PSNI is undertaking in regard to CSE, and the role the community can play in preventing this crime.

Explaining what CSE is, Sergeant Jackson said: “Child Sexual Exploitation is where a child is sexually exploited in return for either gifts, money, alcohol, and sometimes it’s just something as simple as affection.”

Detailing figures, a PSNI spokesperson said: “Since September, 2021, there has been a reduction of eight children at risk of CSE in the Western Trust area, encompassing Enniskillen. However, CSE hasn’t stopped, with six children still currently known to the police as being at risk in this area.”

Detailing the age profile of victims, Sergeant Jackson said: “The youngest child we have ever had [connected to CSE) was 13, and they range up to 18.

“I would say [the age profile] is in around the 15-16 bracket. We know that at that age, people can look a lot older than what they are.”

Sergeant Jackson and her officers were on the beat in Enniskillen on Friday evening, where they engaged with hospitality venues, helping to educate and talk to them about CSE, and how they can help look out for possible signs of CSE in the community.

On why the Hospitality sector is a key focus for PSNI engagement, Sergeant Jackson said: “We know CSE happens in hospitality settings, so we decided we really wanted to put preventative measures in to try and prevent children from being exposed to sexual exploitation.”

Continuing, she said: “What we’re seeing is that most of the children are either meeting someone within a hospitality sector venue – say, a pub or a club – or they’re being groomed online, starting with social media.

“The attention then starts between that child and the adult, and then it [can] lead to the sexual offences. Some of the offences that we would deal with on a regular basis would be sexual communication, sexual assaults, sexual activity with a child, and then your worst-case scenario is rape.”

Spotted signs of CSE

Sergeant Jackson revealed during her interview that some Enniskillen publicans had spotted signs of CSE in their premises. She said: “Some of the bars realised that this could be happening in their premises, and there have been some incidents that now they recognise [as CSE].”

The message from the PSNI is to report signs of CSE if you are suspicious of some activity.

Sergeant Jackson continued: “Even if it’s not CSE, it doesn’t matter if you’ve got it wrong – it’s better to come forward to us and speak to us, let us look at it. If it is CSE , we can take it forward, and if it’s not, no one’s being put out. It’s more important that we know that we can look at it.”

Another shocking element of CSE can be the age range of perpetrators. Sergeant Jackson detailed that the offending can “be perpetrated by teenagers and it can be perpetrated by older people”.

She added: “We are looking at it as a varied age range; it can sometimes happen peer to peer, it is so varied.”

Describing the gender breakdown of victims, Sergeant Jackson said: “Most of the children we currently manage are females. However, we do have a small number of males. It is well known that boys aren’t identified as easily [as victims of CSE, but] we know it does happen to boys, and that is one part of our campaign that we want to really get out there.”

When asked about the number of CSE-related prosecutions in the local area, Sergeant Jackson said: “We have had a number of investigations with successful prosecutions.”

Concluding, she emphasised that the public also has a role to play in preventing CSE.

She said: “Everybody has a part to play in CSE – that includes the public, police, Health and Social care, the Education Authority and the hospitality sectors, even down to our public transport service, taxi services, and off-licenses.

“[We are] getting the message out there so that everyone can spot the CSE signs and symptoms, and then through that report it so that we can then look at how to prevent this.”

If you’re concerned about a child’s welfare and think they may be being exploited, please report it to the police online, via 101, or 999 in an emergency. You can also contact the independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously at 0800 555 111, or via crimestoppers-uk.org.

Sergeant Jackson detailed some of the signs of Child Sexual Exploitation in her interview with The Impartial Reporter.

She said: “The key warning signs are adults, befriending young people and buying them drinks, or even food as well as Adults coming in to bars and restaurants and actively targeting young people within that premises.

Other signs within hospitality to be aware of include;

- Adults who come into bars with different young people and frequently,

- Adults buying under 18s alcohol,

- Adults booking into hotel rooms on their own and then arriving back later on with young people to the hotel,

- Young people who are with adults who look frightened and uncomfortable.

- Adults who are we're providing young people with presents such as phones, jewellery, and cash.