Grooming

What is Grooming?

Grooming is when someone builds a connection with a child, young person or an adult who is at risk they do this so they can abuse them and manipulate them into doing things. The types of abuse usually involve sexual and financial abuse. 

Grooming happens both online and in person. Groomers will hide their true intentions and may spend a long time gaining the individual’s trust. 

Once they have established trust, groomers will exploit the relationship by isolating the individual from friends or family and making them feel dependent on them. They will use any means of power or control to make them believe they have no choice but to do what they want. 

Groomers may introduce ‘secrets’ as a way to control or to frighten. Sometimes they will blackmail, or make the individual feel ashamed or guilty, to stop them telling anyone about the abuse. 

Children, young people and vulnerable adults can be groomed by a stranger or by someone they know – for example a family member, friend or professional. 

Groomers may be male or female and they could be of any age. 

Many children and young people don’t understand that they have been groomed, or that what has happened is abuse. 

How Grooming happens 

Groomers do this by: 

• pretending to be someone they are not, for example saying they are the same age online 
• offering advice or understanding 
• buying gifts 
• giving the child attention 
• using their professional position or reputation 
• taking them on trips, outings or holidays.