Criminally exploited children: who are they and how to keep them safe

In November 2023, Action for Children commissioned the Jay Review of Criminally Exploited Children. We wanted to find out what lies behind the growing problem, and what can be done to prevent it.

Our Jay Review heard that there’s no ‘one-type’ of child who is exploited. Victims can be boys and girls, children from all ethnic backgrounds from anywhere across the UK. However, children groomed into exploitation often have specific vulnerabilities which abusers look out for.

Criminals who exploit children are skilled at picking out young people they can manipulate. Often, these are children who feel like they don’t belong, including:

• Children who’ve been excluded from school.
• Children who’ve been in care.
• Children with mental health problems.
• Children who are struggling with addiction.
• Neurodiverse children.

Neurodiversity is a risk factor for exploitation

As part of our Jay Review of Criminally Exploited Children, witnesses have told us that neurodiversity is a risk factor for exploitation. This is especially true for young people with ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder who may be less able to navigate risky and complex situations, and to manage impulsivity.

Going without support for neurodivergence or learning disabilities can also lead to young people being excluded from school. Without the protection of school, children are much more vulnerable to exploitation.

How do exploiters target children?

Some exploiters may target places where these young people spend time – such as residential children’s homes or Pupil Referral Units. They may also contact children online – including through gaming platforms.

Exploiters can provide children with things they need. For a child living in poverty, it could be the money to help their mum with the shopping. For a child abused or neglected at home, an exploiter could provide a sense of protection by giving them somewhere to stay. For a young person feeling lost and ignored, being trusted with tasks can provide them with sense of purpose.

The ‘gains’ that these children get hooks them into an exploiter. Children are then controlled, manipulated, and abused. But they fear for what will happen if they attempt to escape. It can feel safer to stay with who you know.

Children of any gender can be exploited. While boys are more likely to be criminally exploited, girls may be chosen for specific jobs as they tend to be less likely to be stopped by the police.

Sexual exploitation

Sometimes, children are drawn into criminal gangs thinking they’re in a romantic relationship but end up being sexually abused by the group. Girls are more likely to be sexually exploited, but boys can be too. It can be even harder for boys to seek support as victims of sexual abuse.

It's not just teenagers who are exploited

We might imagine that it’s older teenagers who are involved in gangs. But children as young as 12 are frequently recruited by organised crime – some may even still be in primary school. Younger children are more easily manipulated and can more easily keep a lower profile.

It’s also important to remember that just because a child turns 18, it doesn’t mean they’re no longer being exploited. Young adults can still be victims, especially if they were groomed from an early age.

Exploited children come from all ethnic backgrounds

Criminal groups recruit children from a range of ethnic backgrounds. Black and ethnic minority young people are over-represented in the statistics we have available.

This is partly because these children are more often targeted by police – through ‘stop and search’ – so are more likely to appear in official figures.

Children from ethnic minorities, particularly black children, are more likely to experience vulnerabilities to exploitation such as living in poverty or being excluded from school.

Black children, particularly, are often ‘adultified’ - seen as being older than their true age and believed to be choosing to put themselves in risky situations. This can affect the support they receive.

Children who have arrived in the UK on their own, such as asylum-seeking children, can be targeted by people traffickers.

County lines refers to the mobile phone lines that are used to control the movement of drugs between cities and smaller, rural or coastal towns. Because county lines require moving drugs around, many exploited children who aren’t from big cities and are trafficked across the country. The growing power of county lines is pulling in children from a wide range of backgrounds.

Signs of child criminal exploitation may be:

• Sudden changes in a child’s friendship groups.
• Changing patterns of behaviour, including being more aggressive or more secretive, or going missing.
• Problems in school – they might skip school or get into trouble more often.
• Unexplained money or gifts.
• Unexplained injuries.
• Being picked up in cars driven by unknown adults.

Our online support service, Parent Talk, has further advice on how you can spot the signs of exploitation and seek help. You can also contact parent coaches through online chat.