Sexual Abuse and Sexual Exploitation
Sexual abuse includes indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate touching, exposure to pornography or witnessing sexual acts, indecent exposure, and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting.
Some types of sexual abuse can involve physical contact, but there are other types which do not. It can include an isolated incident of assault, or sexual acts within an on-going relationship where the adult is unable to give consent, either because of impaired capacity or because the power imbalance in the relationship is too great for the consent to be considered important by the perpetrator. Abuse usually involves acts performed by the perpetrator on the person being abused, but adults at risk might sometimes be forced or persuaded to do things to themselves, the perpetrator or others.
Sexual Abuse includes the direct or indirect involvement of the adult at risk in sexual activity or relationships which:
• they do not want or to which they have not consented
• they lack the mental capacity to consent to the sexual activity
• they have been coerced into sexual activity by a person in a position of trust, power or authority
Contact sexual abuse may include:
- sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or could not consent, or where he or she was pressured into giving consent, e.g. rape, sexual assault, penetration or attempted penetration of vagina, anus or mouth with or by penis, fingers or other objects
- being touched in a sexualised manner on the breasts, genitals, anus or mouth, or masturbation of either or both persons.
For further information see SCIE: types and indicators of sexual abuse [external link].
All circumstances where an adult with care and support needs is believed to have experienced or be at risk of sexual assault should be reported to the police and consideration should be given to preserving evidence including forensic evidence.
Sexual abuse may also include instances of sexual exploitation whereby an adult with care and support needs may be in situations whereby they receive something in return (usually a basic need such as accommodation or food) for performing sexual acts. Adults can be victims of sexual exploitation even when they consent to the sexual activity, and this is particularly relevant to adults with care and support needs as vulnerability greatly increases the risk.
Sexual exploitation can co-exist with other categories of abuse such as Modern Slavery and Domestic Abuse. In many cases individuals do not self-identify as victims and may be reluctant to engage with the authorities. All such concerns should be reported to Durham Constabulary on 101 and the Adult Contact Team. Multi–Agency working is essential when addressing sexual exploitation in children, young people and adults and it has been highlighted that sexual exploitation involving adults is evident in all towns throughout the UK. For research based information see Changing Lives Website [external link].
For further guidance see Darlington Safeguarding Partnership Procedure and Practice Guidance: Modern Slavery incorporating Human Trafficking [PDF document]. Research has highlighted that children approaching the age of 18 (transitional age) who have been sexually exploited are particularly vulnerable as they approach adulthood with the risk that the exploitation will continue, or they will engage in survival sex work.
For further guidance on sexual exploitation see Darlington Safeguarding Partnership Sexual Exploitation referral pathway [PDF document].
Whilst the adult at risk should always remain at the centre of the safeguarding process and be involved in their own safety planning this does not preclude the sharing of information without their consent in high-risk cases. For further guidance see SCIE: Safeguarding Adults: sharing information [external link].