Over the years, we have become increasingly aware of the complexity and nuance involved in safeguarding. One area that has needed careful consideration came to light in relation to Child Sexual Exploitation. It has been highlighted in reviews and also in the documentaries that have examined the Rochdale and Rotherham scandal and also the Jeffrey Epstein abuse.

In these complex situations, there were some young people who were identified as recruiters for the perpetrators and so the young people were accomplices and perpetrators themselves. However, this perspective is a significant over-simplification. Often these teenage accomplices/perpetrators we either coerced or threatened into the crimes. On other occasions, even though there was no threat, the young person became involved in the recruiting to avoid the abuse themselves.

Clearly, their activity was criminal and abusive, however, to reduce the situation in this way fails to recognise the many different aspects and dynamics invoved in such situations.