Improving police responses to victims of child sexual exploitation | ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize
Child sexual exploitation cases are challenging to investigate. Traumatised children are often unable to correctly identify abuse, while fear and shame can affect their responses, and retelling their story can, in itself, be traumatising. To create a safer and more professional space for victims to share their experiences, it is important for police to understand behaviours stemming from trauma and recognise the impact of their own interactions.
The Centre for Child Protection (CCP) worked in collaboration with Kent Police to develop and evaluate an interactive simulation that helps train police officers in trauma-informed approaches, aiding in the disruption of violence against women and girls.
This type of training is a growing area of interest for police forces and improvements in police response and culture have ultimately benefited vulnerable young victims of child sexual exploitation.
The Centre for Child Protection (CCP) team, led by Dr Tracee Green at the University of Kent is shortlisted for the ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize 2024. The Prize, now in its 12th year, is an opportunity to recognise the success of ESRC-funded researchers in achieving and enabling outstanding economic or societal impact from their research.