Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse is a form of abuse where a child is exposed to sexually inappropriate acts either by being forced or enticed into participating in sexual acts, being forced to observe or look at sexual or pornographic images, or encouraged to behave in a sexually inappropriate manner.
The NSPCC estimates that over 2,00 children in the UK needed protection from sexual abuse in 2018. Most children did not tell anyone and ninety per cent were abused by someone that they knew.
It should be remembered that whilst the legal age for sexual consent in the United Kingdom is 16 it is unlikely that the Crown Prosecution Service would prosecute two consenting 13- 15 year olds but sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13 is a criminal offence and would result in a charge of rape.
Sexual abuse can manifest as both physical and behavioural signs including:
- Pregnancy.
- Sexually transmitted infections.
- Genital bleeding or itching.
- Soiling of clothes.
- Self-harming.
- Appearing withdrawn.
- Poor performance in school.
- Knowledge of sexual activities that is inappropriate for the child’s age.