Safeguarding practice guidance: sexual exploitation
Sexual exploitation is generally understood as a form of sexual abuse where an adult at risk is manipulated, coerced, or forced into sexual activity in exchange for something they need or want, such as money, drugs, affection, or status. It often involves a power imbalance and can include grooming, threats, or deception.
While there isn't a single statutory definition specific to safeguarding adults, guidance from the Care and Support Statutory Guidance (under the Care Act 2014) includes sexual exploitation under the broader category of sexual abuse, which encompasses:
Rape, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate looking or touching, sexual teasing or innuendo, sexual photography, subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts, and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting.
Sexual exploitation in this context may also involve:
- grooming: building a relationship of trust to manipulate or coerce
- transactional sex: where sex is exchanged for basic needs or perceived affection
- online exploitation: including coercion into sharing sexual images or engaging in sexual acts via digital platforms
Sexual assault and sexual abuse information to support people seeking asylum in the UK
The NHS have created the following booklet: Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse, Information to support people seeking asylum in the UK.
The booklet is also available in different languages.
