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Explaining the new law on child criminal exploitation

On Wednesday 29th April 2026, the Crime and Policing Bill received Royal Assent, marking the first major change in the law on child criminal exploitation (CCE) in over a decade. For more than ten years, The Children’s Society has campaigned for stronger legal frameworks to protect children from criminal exploitation. This new law represents a significant step forward in recognising that children who are exploited by adults are victims, not criminals. We’re proud that this long-overdue change in the law reflects our calls and want to thank every supporter who played a part in making this happen.  

What does the new legislation do?

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What does the new legislation do? 

The new Crime and Policing Act introduces three new criminal offences to hold perpetrators accountable:  

  1. Child criminal exploitation: Criminalises adults who coerce, manipulate or force a child into offending 
  2. Home takeover (“cuckooing”): Targets those who use a person’s home for criminal activity 
  3. Internal concealment: Criminalises causing a child to conceal items like drugs, weapons, cash or other items associated with criminal activity within their body  

Why does it matter?

Too often, children in teenhood who are criminally exploited are treated as criminals instead of victims, despite being coerced or groomed. 

This law is an important step toward recognising their experiences and protecting them from harm. 

Exploitation can have serious and lasting impacts on safety, mental health and wellbeing. Perpetrators frequently use violence, threats and isolation to control young people and prevent them from seeking help. 

This law sends a clear message: exploiting children is a serious crime.   

Influencing successes: how we helped shape the legislation

Influencing successes: how we helped shape the legislation 

Our policy experts kept a close eye on the legislation as it progressed through Parliament, working with MPs, peers and sector partners to fine tune it along the way, making sure it works in children's best interests. Hundreds of people emailed their MP to add pressure to our demands.

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Government agreement

As a result of that work, the Government agreed to some important, technical changes, including: 

  • Committing to introduce a legal definition of child criminal exploitation to sit alongside the law in new guidance. This will provide consistency in how victims are identified and protected by police forces across the country.   
  • Closing a dangerous loophole that could have allowed perpetrators of child criminal exploitation with a defence in court – that they held a reasonable belief that a victim aged 13-17 was actually an adult. The removal of this language will make sure that children of all ages are recognised as victims.  

We’ve also been working closely with the Government on planning for implementation – so that partners working across the system know what the new law will mean for their practice and how it should be used to keep children safe.  

What still needs to change? 

While today is an important milestone, there is still more to do.

Thank you

Securing stronger legal protections for children who are victims of exploitation is a huge win. And this change wouldn’t have happened without our supporters.  

Hundreds of people took action by emailing their MP and demanding these vital changes. Thank you to every person who raised their voice.  

Together we have shown that the louder our voice, the more we can achieve.  

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