Shropshire Safeguarding Community Partnership identified tackling Exploitation as one of its strategic priorities between April 2020 and the end of March 2023.
The Partnership have agreed the below definition, which take account of national definitions but we recognise that children and adults can be at risk of exploitation and that exploitation can be revealed in many ways.
Exploitation is a form of abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child, young person, or adult (including those with care and support needs) into any activity that results in financial or other advantage for the perpetrator or facilitator. Activity includes arranging or facilitating the involvement or travel (trafficking) of a child, young person, or adult (including those with care and support needs)
Specific types of exploitation include:
- Modern Slavery (including human trafficking)
- Sexual Exploitation
- Criminal Exploitation
- Financial Exploitation (including scams, doorstep crime and rogue traders)
- Radicalisation to commit acts of terrorism
- Any other Exploitation that enables services or benefits of any kind, including:
- Removal of organs
- Forced marriage
- Illegal adoption
The victim may still be exploited even if the activities that they are engaging in appear consensual.
Exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.
Multiple types of exploitation can occur alongside one another or as part of other forms of abuse.