Child Criminal Exploitation

This guidance outlines what Child Criminal Exploitation is, signs to look out for and what practitioners should do if they are worried about a child. 

 

1. Introduction

1.1 Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) is a form of abuse, not a lifestyle choice. Children who are criminally exploited are victims. It affects boys and girls from any social, ethnic and economic background. Some victims can be as young as primary school aged children.

1.2 CCE can have serious long-term effects on every aspect of children’s lives and may be life threatening. It is important that practitioners understand this when engaging young people and recording any information about them. In many cases, the boundary between ‘victim’ and ‘offender’ will often be blurred. Practitioners need to give sufficient priority to both areas as part of their practice. Put simply, when offending is driven by exploitation, one won’t be addressed without the other.

 2. What is CCE?

2.1 CCE involves criminals targeting young people, often vulnerable, to carry out criminal activity. Children often do not realise they are victims, and it is important to remember that this is not a ‘choice’.

2.2 The Home Office defines “Child criminal exploitation is common in county lines and occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18. The victim may have been criminally exploited even if the activity appears consensual. Child criminal exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.” (Serious Violence Strategy)

3. Why it matters?

3.1 Criminals and/or organised crime groups exploit children and young people to deal drugs and carry out other criminal activity on their behalf. Children and young people are seen by perpetrators to be easily controllable and inexpensive to resource. Victims can also fall into debt (known as debt bondage) to these groups which can often lead to threats and violence. The children involved do not recognise that they are victims of exploitation as they consider they have acted voluntarily and most often it can be about status – to be part of the group and have a sense of belonging. Perpetrators groom children through giving them money, drugs or clothing to keep them involved in the criminal activity.

4. Recognising vulnerability

4.1 Several factors can make a young person vulnerable to being criminally exploited. These can include a child having a history of abuse or neglect, living in a chaotic household, children in care, bereavement or loss, low self-esteem, learning disability / mental health issues or exposure to violence. This list is not exhaustive and professional curiosity is essential in identifying children at risk. Significant influences leading to exploitation can come from outside the family home and be contextual such as from a peer group, be online, at school and/or in the neighbourhood. Children who are criminally exploited may also suffer from other forms of exploitation. It is important to consider other forms of harm outside the home in order to better understand the risk to the child.

5. Spotting the signs

The following is a list of possible signs and indicators that  there is a risk of CCE for the child you are supporting:

  • Child withdrawn from family;
  • Sudden loss of interest in school or change in behaviour. Decline in attendance or academic achievement (although it should be noted that some gang members will maintain a good attendance record to avoid coming to notice);
  • Being emotionally 'switched off', but also containing frustration / rage;
  • Starting to use new or unknown slang words;
  • Holding unexplained money or possessions;
  • Staying out unusually late without reason, or breaking parental rules consistently;
  • Sudden change in appearance – dressing in a particular style or 'uniform' similar to that of other young people they hang around with, including a particular colour;
  • New tattoos with gang style symbols
  • Dropping out of positive activities;
  • New nickname;
  • Unexplained physical injuries, and/or refusal to seek / receive medical treatment for injuries;
  • Graffiti style 'tags' on possessions, school books, walls;
  • Constantly talking about another young person who seems to have a lot of influence over them;
  • Breaking off with old friends and hanging around with one group of people;
  • Associating with known or suspected gang members, closeness to siblings or adults in the family who are gang members;
  • Starting to adopt certain codes of group behaviour e.g. ways of talking and hand signs;
  • Going missing;
  • Being found by Police in towns or cities many miles from their home;
  • Expressing aggressive or intimidating views towards other groups of young people, some of whom may have been friends in the past;
  • Being scared when entering certain areas; and
  • Concerned by the presence of unknown youths in their neighbourhoods.

(NB: This is not an exhaustive list)

6. If you are worried about a child, what do to next:

6.1 An Initial Harm Outside of the Home Screening Tool should be completed where there are concerns regarding signs and indicators of CCE. If the child is open to services and already has a worker, the Screening Tool should be sent directly to the local Harm Outside of the Home group.

6.2 If the child does not have a worker the Screening Tool should be used to assist evidence gathering in making a SAFER referral and can be submitted alongside a SAFER referral form to:

A SAFER referral must be made as soon as possible when any concern of Significant Harm as a consequence of child criminal exploitation becomes known. Any agency or practitioner who has concerns that a child may be at risk of harm should contact the relevant MACH or CHUB.

6.3 If there is concern about a child’s immediate safety, the Police should be contacted on 999.               

7. Useful Practice Tools (on this website)

8. Useful Links and Resources (on this website)

9. Further Information