Child Criminal Exploitation happens when someone takes advantage of a person under 18. They might trick, pressure, or lie to the child to get them to do something. This could be:
- in return for something the child wants or needs
- to benefit the person exploiting them such as making money or gaining status
- by using violence or threats
Even if the child agrees to help (for example helping to move drugs or money), they’re still being exploited.
This kind of abuse doesn’t always involve physical contact and can also happen online.
County lines
County lines is when gangs from cities send drugs to smaller towns and coastal areas using mobile phones known as “deal lines”. They often exploit children and vulnerable people to move drugs and money. These gangs sometimes take over the homes of vulnerable adults by force or threats; this is called ‘cuckooing’.
County lines is a serious issue that involves drugs, violence, gangs, abuse, modern slavery, and missing people. Tackling it requires help from the police, the National Crime Agency, government departments, local councils, and charities.
This kind of activity causes real harm to young people, vulnerable adults, and local communities.
How to spot criminal exploitation and county lines
A sign that may suggest a child is being exploited through county lines or criminal activity may be:
- returning home late, staying out all night, or going missing
- being found in areas away from home
- increasing drug use or being found to have large amounts of drugs on them
- being secretive about who they are talking to and where they are going
- unexplained absences from school, college, training or work
- unexplained money, phones, clothes or jewellery
- increasingly disruptive or aggressive behaviour
- using sexual, drug-related, or violent language you wouldn’t expect them to know
- coming home with injuries or looking dishevelled
- having hotel cards or keys to unknown place
In an emergency, or if you believe a child is at immediate risk of harm, call the police on 999.
How to report child criminal exploitation
Child exploitation toolkits
Anyone working with, or in regular contact with, children and young people must be aware of the signs and symptoms of exploitation and is expected to respond.
The Child Exploitation toolkit should be used in any instance where you are concerned that a child is being exploited, through sexual or criminal means.
The Screening Tool and Risk Assessment helps you to identify and evaluate the cause of your concerns and reflect on whether further safeguarding investigations are needed. The tool should also be used to evidence improvement when you are working with a child and risk is assessed to be reduced. You can find below our:
These are both Microsoft Word documents and may not be accessible for all devices. If you can't access these documents get in touch by:
phone on: 01202 093 732
email on: safeguardingchildrenpartnershipbcp@bcpcouncil.gov.uk