CSE is everyone's business?: the role of the night-time economy

This chapter focuses on risks of child sexual exploitation (CSE) in the night-time economy for young people; teenagers rather than children below the age of 12. It begins by defining what is meant by the 'night-time economy' and asks firstly why the night-time and the night-time economy are significant in the context of CSE? The chapter suggests that the night-time economy is a distinct space which merits attention for the prevention of CSE in the community. It argues that CSE risks and vulnerabilities may at times be heightened and/or overlooked, precisely because they occur at night and because the characteristics of the night-time economy may amplify these effects. The chapter explores the ways in which young people in public space at night are frequently 'produced' as problems and/or made invisible. It presents evidence from an evaluation of a pilot project in England which aimed to increase awareness and action against CSE among workers employed in the night-time economy.