Robyn and Molly

Robyn and Molly was developed as part of a collaborative project between the Centre for Child Protection (CCP) and Kent Police funded initially by the University of Kent’s Impact Fund and then by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). This project utilises a proven innovative technology and established pedagogy of “serious game” simulation training with a focus on the sexual exploitation of girls. It has included the creation, application, and evaluation of a pilot-simulation training tool to be used with police officers to promote a trauma-informed approach to working with victims and witnesses in cases involving crimes of child sexual exploitation (CSE).

VAWG is a violation of women’s human rights, and national and global policies have turned towards tackling VAWG, targeting any act of violence against females. WHO (2021) estimates that 30% of women at some point in their lifetime experience violence with consequences of poor mental or physical health including, but not limited to, sexual and reproductive health problems, elevated risk of sexually transmitted diseases, depression, anxiety, self-harm, misuse of substances, personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (WHO 2021, Jewkes et al., 2021; Christie 2018). CSE is an important aspect of VAWG whereby young girls are the most frequent victims (Jay et al., 2022). It is a form of child sexual abuse and involves an individual (or group) taking advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a young person into sexual activity. It often involves an exchange for something the young person wants or needs or an advantage for the perpetrators (Christie 2018; Department of Education 2017). A trauma-informed approach (TIA) is regarded as an essential framework to support Girls with Lived Experience of CSE (GLE-CSE) to promote their physical and psychological recovery (UNCRC 1989, Art 39). It is recommended as a framework to understand the traumatic experiences of these girls and to realise how the symptoms will manifest (Hickle 2019). CSE in girls has been linked to further VAWG post-childhood with Coy (2017, p. 122) stating CSE “often begins in childhood, but often does not end there;” further underscoring the need to develop trauma-informed support for GLE-CSE.

Robyn and Molly looks at two very different experiences of CSE to consider the trauma stemming from before, during and after key incidents of abuse. This training tool is designed for use with police officers in the UK who engage and work with a variety of young people – whether they are noticeably vulnerable or not. Read more about how this project was a finalist for the ESRC Impact Prize; impact case study and video overview.

References:

Christie, C. (2018) A Trauma-informed Health and Care Approach for responding to Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Current knowledge report. Available from: https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/158351075.pdf [Accessed: 1 June 2022].

Coy, M. (2017). Prostitution in (and out of) policy on violence against women and girls in the UK. Journal of Gender-Based Violence; 1(1), 117-126.

Department for Education (2017). Child sexual exploitation: definition and guide for practitioners. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-sexual-exploitation-definition-and-guide-for-practitioners [Accessed: 2 June 2022].

Hickle, K. (2019). ‘Understanding trauma and its relevance to child sexual exploitation’, in J. Pearce (ed.) Sexual exploitation why theory matters. Bristol: Policy Press.

Jay, A., Evans, M., Frank, I. and Sharpling, D. (2022). Investigation Report: Child sexual exploitation by organised networks. Available from: https://www.iicsa.org.uk/reports-recommendations/publications/investigation/cs-organised-networks. [Accessed 1 June 2022].

Jewkes, R. et al (2021). Elements of the design and implementation of interventions to prevent violence against women and girls associated with success: Reflections from the What Works to Prevent Violence against Women and Girls? Global Programme. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health; 18(22), 12129.

United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (1989). Available from: https://www.unicef.org.uk/what-we-do/un-convention-child-rights/ [Accessed: 7^th July 2022].

WHO (2021). Violence Against Women. [Online] World Health Organisation. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women [Accessed 16 March 2022].

Other useful resources:

Allnock, D. (2015). What do we know about child sexual abuse and policing in England and Wales? Evidence briefing for the National Policing Lead for Child Protection and Abuse Investigation. Available from: https://uobrep.openrepository.com/bitstream/handle/10547/623187/CSA-and-policing-briefing-FINAL.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y [Accessed: 27 July 2022].

Allnock, D., Dawson, J. and Rawden, H. (2020). The role of police in responding to child and adult vulnerability: A meta-analysis of 126 reviews of death and serious harm. Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice Programme. Available at: https://www.vkorg.uk/publications/publications-and-reports/ [Accessed: 27 July 2022].

Beckett, H. & Warrington, C. (2015). Making justice work: Experiences of criminal justice for children and young people affected by sexual exploitation as victims and witnesses. Available from: http://www.beds.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/461867/Beckett-and-Warrington-2015-MakingJustice-Work-Exec-Summary.pdf [Accessed: 26 July 2022].

Beckett, H. (2011). 10 Key facts about child sexual exploitation: Research Briefing Note #1 produced to support a short film for practice. Available from: www.beds.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/510068/10-Key-Things-Film-briefing.pdf [Accessed: 24 July 2022].

Beckett, H., Holmes, D. and Walker, J. (2017). Child Sexual Exploitation: Definition and guide for professionals. (Extended text). Available from: www.rip.org.uk/resources/publications/practice-tools-and-guides/childsexual-exploitation-practice-tool-2017-open-access/ [Accessed: 26 June 2022].

Bedford, A. (2015). Serious Case Review into Child Sexual Exploitation in Oxfordshire: from the experiences of Children A, B, C, D, E, and F. Oxford: Oxfordshire

Bloom, S.L. (1995). The germ theory of trauma: The impossibility of ethical neutrality. In: Stamm, B.H. ed. Secondary traumatic stress: Self-care issues for clinicians, researchers, and educators 257-276. Available from: https://sandrabloom.com/wp-content/uploads/1995-Bloom-The-Germ-Theory-of-Trauma.pdf. [Accessed 28 August 2022]

Bunting, L. (2008) Sexual offences against children: An exploration of attrition in the Northern Ireland criminal justice system. Child Abuse & Neglect, 32, 1109-1118.

Bunting, L., Montgomery, L., Mooney, S., MacDonald, M., Coulter, S., Hayes, D. and Davidson, G. (2019). Trauma Informed Child Welfare Systems—A Rapid Evidence Review. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334223240_Trauma_Informed_Child_Welfare_Systems-A_Rapid_Evidence_Review. [Accessed 28 August 2022].

Christensen, L., Sharman, S. and Powell, M. (2015). ‘Professionals’ views on child sexual abuse attrition rates’, Psychiatry, psychology and law, 22(4), 542-558.

Clark, C., Classen, C.c. Fourt, A. and Shetty, M. (2015). Treating the Trauma Survivor: An Essential Guide to Trauma-Informed Care. London: Routledge.

College of Policing (2021). Responding to child sexual exploitation Available from: https://www.college.police.uk/app/major-investigation-and-public-protection/responding-child-sexual-exploitation/responding-child-sexual-exploitation [Accessed on 24 January 2023]

College of Policing (2021). Victims’ Code for policing. Available from: https://www.college.police.uk/guidance/victims-code/victims-rights-policing. [Accessed 31 August 2022].

Collingwood, S., Knox, A., Fowler, H., Harding, S., Irwin, S. and Quinney, S. (2018) The Little Book of Adverse Childhood Experiences. Edited by C. Coulton. Lancaster University: Imagination Lancaster.

Dodsworth, J & Larsson, B. (2014). An examination of the perspectives and experiences of police officers working with children and young people at risk of, or involved in, child sexual exploitation. University of East Anglia. Available from: https://www.uea.ac.uk/centre-research-child-family/child-protection-and-family-support/routes-into-sexual-exploitation [Accessed: 7 August 2022].

Godar, R. (2013). Prompt Briefings Children and young people missing from care and vulnerable to sexual exploitation. Research in Practice. Available from: https://tce.researchinpractice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Children-and-young-people-missing-from-care-and-vulnerable-to-sexual-exploitation.pdf [Accessed 7 August 2022].

Goldstein, S.L. (1984). ‘Investigating child sexual exploitation: Law enforcement’s role’, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, January (8), 1-12

Hallett, S. (2017). Making sense of child sexual exploitation: Exchange, abuse and young people. Bristol: Policy Press.

HM Government (2009). Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation. HMSO: London. Available from: https://www.norfolklscb.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/dcsf_safegch_yp_sex_exp.pdf [Accessed: 14 August 2022].

HM Government (2019). Child exploitation disruption toolkit. Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1091229/14.100_HO_Child_Exploitation_Disruption_Toolkit_v7_WEB_1_.pdf [Accessed: 10 August 2022].

HM Government (2021a). Tackling child sexual abuse strategy. Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/973236/Tackling_Child_Sexual_Abuse_Strategy_2021.pdf [Accessed 7 June 2022].

HM Government (2021b). Tackling violence against women and girls’ strategy. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tackling-violence-against-women-and-girls-strategy [Accessed 22 July 2022].

HM Government (2022). Child sexual exploitation by organised networks report by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA): government response (accessible version). [Online]. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-sexual-exploitation-by-organised-networks-report-government-response/child-sexual-exploitation-by-organised-networks-report-by-the-independent-inquiry-into-child-sexual-abuse-iicsa-government-response-accessible-ver

Hyde. N. (2022). Major investigation finds police failed to protect children during sexual abuse scandal in Rotherham. Yorkshire Post [Online], (Crime) 22 June, Available from: https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/crime/major-investigation-finds-police-failed-to-protect-children-during-sexual-abuse-scandal-in-rotherham-3741040. [Accessed: 13 August 2022[.

Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Truth Project) (2017). Victims and survivors voices from The Truth Project. Available from: file:///C:/Users/pauli/Downloads/victim-survivor-voices-from-truth-project-1.pdf. [Accessed: 15 June 2022].

Perry, B. and Szalavitz, M. (2017). The Boy who was raised as a dog And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist’s Notebook. New York: Basic Books.

Women and Girls Network (2018). Good Practice Briefing: Developing A Trauma Informed Approach The importance and application of A Trauma Informed Approach for Working with Survivors of Gender Based Violence. Available from: https://www.wgn.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-05/Good-Practice-Briefing-TIA-Model-1.pdf [Accessed: 1 June 2022].

Centre for Child Protection

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