Care experienced children and young adults are likely to have the kinds of vulnerabilities that make them a target for criminals who wish to criminally and/or sexually exploit them, such as backgrounds of trauma and abuse and lack of adult care and oversight. Young, care experienced adults, living on their own with limited support are extremely vulnerable to criminals, who may try to use their properties for criminal activities, a process known as “cuckooing”.
Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) may involve County Lines activity although this is not the only form of criminal exploitation. There can also be a cross-over between CCE and Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE), for example, children may be forced to hide drugs internally or be coerced into carrying out sexual activities and offences that are filmed as part of a control process. Both boys and girls can be victims of both CCE and CSE, so both should always be considered. Recent research (2021) conducted by CASCADE and funded by Health Care Research Wales examined how children are targeted, groomed, and criminally exploited in Wales.
It can be very worrying, even frightening, to suspect that a child or young adult is the victim of CCE or CSE. There are now many sources of support for practitioners who have concerns and you should never be dealing with these worries alone. However, it is essential that everyone working with care experienced children and young adults is equipped with some basic knowledge in order to prevent criminalisation and to initiate safeguarding responses where necessary. Use the resources on this page to:
There is lots of information available to help practitioners understand these forms of abuse and to learn how to spot the signs that a child or young adult might be the victim of exploitation. The Home Office and Ministry of Justice have published a range of resources for practitioners, including:
The following organisations provide advice and practical support for practitioners, young people and their carers.
