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What is criminal exploitation?
Criminal exploitation is a form of modern slavery and human trafficking where victims are forced to work under highly organised criminals using force, coercion, abuse, deception, or other means of exploitation.
What is child criminal exploitation?
Child criminal exploitation (CCE) is the control of children and young people to commit crimes, usually for the benefit of abusive adults or peers. A child can be manipulated, intimated, and threatened with violence (including sexual violence). A child under the age of 18 cannot legally give consent to their exploitation even if the activity appears to them and others as consensual. The exploitation does not always involve physical contact, it can also occur through the use of technology.
What is County Lines
County Lines is used to describe criminal gangs who network to transport illegal drugs within the UK using dedicated mobile phones. Criminally exploited victims are forced by criminal gangs to run drugs from urban to rural locations across the UK.
Signs of criminal exploitation
Warning signs for a child or young person being exploited include:
- Frequently going missing from home or school or being found out of area
- Unexplained money, clothes, jewellery, or mobile phones
- In a relationship or hanging out with someone older than them
- Being angry, aggressive or violent
- Being lonely or withdrawn
- Using new slang words
- Spending more time on social media and being secretive about time online
- Making more calls or sending more texts
- Self-harming and feeling emotionally unwell
- Taking drugs and abusing alcohol
- Committing crimes like shop lifting or vandalism
- Unexplained injuries and refusing to find medical help
- Carrying weapons or having a dangerous breed of dog
How to report criminal exploitation
- Call the Police on 999 if in immediate or a crime is happening right now. If a crime ahs already happened you can report it online or call 101
- You can call the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700
- You can share your concerns anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
Safeguarding referral
If you are concerned about a child or adult, you can:
- Call Customer First on freephone 0808 800 4005.
- Make a referral online using the relevant Suffolk County Council link below:
Anonymously raising concerns
If you would like to raise your concern anonymously, please use the buttons below.
Note: The buttons open in a new window.
Raise your concern anonymously about an adult
Raise your concern anonymously about a child
More information
Find out more here by visiting NSPCC Information page.