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The frontline of child exploitation

Children as young as seven years old are being groomed into a life of criminality. It's a serious problem in all areas of the UK.

We spoke to one of our project workers who works with young people who have been criminally exploited through county lines. She helps them understand their situation, break free from their abuse and move on to build better futures.

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Life on the road

A lot of these children are targeted by criminal groups because they haven’t got a family, or security. Likely to be trapped in poverty, they are picked off the street, having nowhere else to go, and are made to feel part of a family.

They are groomed with gifts and affection, but soon the abuse starts and the child is trapped in a cycle of horror. They are transported around the country, taken far from home, to live in drug dens known as 'trap houses' with strangers in horrific conditions.

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What is county lines?

County lines is more prevalent in the UK than you might think. It's not just a 'big city problem' that affects young people from a certain age group or background.

criminal exploitation

Knives are the norm

Young people who are groomed are manipulated and controlled by their abusers. The ‘elders’ within the criminal groups have complete power over them. They may be forced to hold guns or knives as well as large quantities of drugs.

As part of the grooming process, the criminal groups will make children mistrust social workers and the police. ‘Snitching’ is made out to be the worst thing a child can do. Victims will be scared of telling on someone because of the repercussions for them or their families back home.

criminal exploitation blog

Building trust

My role is to build a trusting relationship with child victims of criminal exploitation. Project workers like me do this through constant and persistent support for that young person, so that they don’t feel like anyone is giving up on them. That might be by meeting up with that child for a coffee and a chat, or dropping them a text or a call to keep in touch, so that they know they are not alone.

As well as this, we also help educate victims about the grooming process in criminal exploitation, helping them understand how the media can glamorise this environment.

Most importantly, we safeguard and protect these young people. I work with them to create a safety plan which helps prevent the abuse from escalating.

How practitioners help

criminal exploitation blog practitioner

Pioneers of protection

In some instances, a young person may come to me having been threatened with kidnapping, serious violence, and even death threats. In order to keep that child safe, I work with other agencies, such as the police and social services to share information that will ensure the child is moved to a place of safety.

We are pioneering in the area of criminal exploitation. We are in a great position to not only help a young person’s emotional and mental well-being, but also to influence and inform different services to work with victims.

By educating other professionals to better support young people affected by exploitation, we can help disrupt the cycles of abuse.

Breaking the cycle

No young person should suffer abuse or exploitation. Our project workers stand side-by-side with young people, helping them find safety, self-belief, and confidence, so they can break free from a cycle of abuse.

Every phone call, message of support and coffee shop meet-up will help young people deal with their trauma and see that their future is theirs to own.  

young woman looking to camera strong

Donate

Donate today to help our project workers reach a young person who is being exploited.

Together we can help them break free from their abusers and begin to recover.