It takes the average predator less than 3 minutes to groom or child or young person. While that number is scary, it highlights the importance of educating your students on the dangers of grooming and the warning signs of grooming.
FAQs
Grooming is a manipulative process where a predator builds a relationship, trust, and emotional connection with a child or vulnerable person to exploit, abuse, or manipulate them.
Predators might groom their victims through flattery, giving gifts, isolating them from friends and family, providing special attention, and gradually crossing boundaries to desensitise the victim to inappropriate behaviour.
Someone might groom another person with the intent to exploit them for sexual abuse, trafficking, or other forms of exploitation. The goal is to gain the victim’s trust and dependence to facilitate abuse without immediate detection.
The victims of grooming are typically children and young people, though vulnerable adults can also be targeted. Predators often seek out individuals who are emotionally vulnerable, isolated, or seeking attention and affection.
Grooming can happen anywhere, including in person (at schools, community centres, or homes) and online (through social media, chat rooms, and gaming platforms).
Perpetrators of grooming can be anyone, including strangers, acquaintances, family members, or authority figures such as teachers, coaches, or religious leaders. They often present themselves as trustworthy and caring to gain access to their victims.
In the UK, grooming is addressed under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. This law makes it illegal to intentionally engage in any behaviour aimed at building a relationship with a child to facilitate sexual activity. It covers both online and offline interactions. Additionally, the law criminalises adults who communicate with children with the intention of meeting them for sexual purposes. Perpetrators can face severe penalties, including imprisonment, to protect children from exploitation and abuse.