Description

In the UK, a series of national level policies oriented toward pre-emptive intervention have recently been set in train. This presentation considers the effects of an educational intervention with young people designed to reduce the risk of child sexual exploitation (CSE). Drawing on qualitative empirical data—including field observations, in-depth interviews with members of a multi-agency team, and focus groups with young people engaging with CSE awareness raising initiatives—we excavate some of the critical issues that arise in deploying risk based techniques in this area. More specifically, processes of engagement with the initiative, the efficacy of the strategy adopted by the delivery team, and the impacts on the perspectives of young people targeted are discussed. Focusing on mutually constitutive problems of context sensitivity, recognition of ambiguity and the silencing of alternative narratives, several vital caveats are raised that should be considered in the design and implementation of future preventative initiatives.