NEW analysis by the NSPCC of police recorded crime data reveals there were over a thousand offences with an element of child sexual exploitation in the North East last year.

During 2021/22 in the North East, 1,174 crimes were recorded by police in the Northumbria, Durham and Cleveland policing areas – an average of three every day.

In the same period in England and Wales, there were 17,486 crimes logged by police where children had been sexually exploited– an average of 48 offences a day, and an increase of 10 per cent on the previous year.

The charity is revealing this data as its Childline service launches ‘The Full Story’ campaign in a bid to encourage more children and teenagers at risk of, or suffering sexual exploitation to use Childline for immediate and confidential help.

Over the last year, the charity said Childline has heard from thousands of young people about sexual exploitation with some being manipulated into performing sexual activities after being given money, drugs or love and affection.

Others have been sexually exploited after being trafficked from their home after being threatened with violence or the promise of a better life elsewhere, the NSPCC said.

The number of Childline counselling sessions on sexual exploitation and abuse has increased from 5,962 to 6,230 this year (April 2021 - March 2022).

The campaign has created a series of short films showing five different scenarios of sexual exploitation, taken from real Childline calls.

In one of the films, 15-year-old Leah* is stood outside a party with her boyfriend. Over the next few seconds, she is plied with alcohol by her older boyfriend, who later says she owes him and tells her to have sex with his friends. 

This week, the service has also unveiled posters at bus stops, motorway service stations, cinemas, colleges, Pupil Referral Units, youth centres, youth hostels, children’s homes, GP’s, and sexual health clinics.

Darren Worth, Service Head of Childline, said: “Sexual exploitation is a complex crime and often when children describe what is happening in their relationship, they don’t realise they are being groomed and abused. 

“Our counsellors have heard from children who have said they didn’t realise what they experienced in a relationship or friendship was wrong until they were much older, and some said at the time they thought their abuser was someone they could trust.

“Others said they thought they were to blame for what had happened and were scared about what would happen if they did speak out.

“This is why this campaign is so important as it’s essential that all children and young people have an awareness of this issue and know that no matter what the circumstances are, that sexual exploitation is never a child’s fault and there are people like Childline who can help.”

Childline offers confidential, non-judgemental support to children and young people – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Young people can talk to the Childline counsellors online in 1-2-1 chat from an account they set up on the Childline website at www.childline.org.uk. This account can also be used to send the counsellors and email and it’s always free to call 0800 1111 with no phone credit required.