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Resource for professionals / adnodd i gweithwyr proffesiynol

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i rhieni / for parents

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Sexual exploitation / escloaetiaeth rhywiol

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Sexual exploitation / escloaetiaeth rhywiol

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For young people / i pobl ifanc

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Resources for professionals / adnodd i gweithwyr proffesiynol

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For professionals / i gweithwyr proffesiynol

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For young people and professionals / i pobl ifanc a gweithwyr proffesiynol

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Video Production Company - Magneto Films Ltd.

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For young people / i pobl ifanc

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Know The Signs - Emma's Story - A Victim's Perspective of Child Sexual Exploitation

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For young people

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Stop the Secrets that Hurt - Sexual Abuse is Confusing

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for professionals / i gweithwyr proffesiynol

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Resources for parents and professionals / adnodd i rhieni a gweithwyr proffesiynol

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"The Lighthouse has been a little bit of refuge."
Parent in London

W hen a child has experienced sexual abuse , they and their family are often left to navigate finding the right support for their child alone. From health care professionals, social workers, therapists and the police - this frequently means the child has to re-tell and re-live their experience with each agency or professional, risking being re-traumatised by the process .

The Lighthouse is based on the international Child House ( Barnahus ) model, established in Reykjavik in 1998. This model is child-centred, allowing medical and sexual health professionals, counsellors, therapists, and the police to work together under one roof - guiding children, young people and their families through their journey of recovery, helping them access the support they need at every step, including the court process.

"I only have to tell the story once."
Child using The Lighthouse in London

In London, where The Lighthouse is based, research has identified a "significant unmet need" for emotional and health support for children who have experienced sexual abuse. Those who do sometimes have to wait months to receive therapy and the support they need. One study found that 8 in 10 adolescents who experienced sexual abuse had mental health problems 4-5 months after the assault. That is why it is so important children get the help they need when they need it.

In 2019/20, The Lighthouse received 321 referrals, meaning approximately 1 in 2 children in North Central London who reported sexual offences were referred there for support. The Lighthouse team were able to accept 258 of those through this difficult time.

"I like the way I can talk and be advised and listened to. I can also talk about what I'd like to talk about."
Child using The Lighthouse in London

"I don't know how my family would have got through this trauma without this service. Truly amazing."
Parent in London

The Mayor of London's Office for Policing and Crime is evaluating t he Lighthouse and has published 3 reports to date, with a final report due in S ummer 2021.

We believe every child should have the support they need after facing sexual abuse. Being a partner in The Lighthouse has shown us the difference a Child House can make for young people who've experienced abuse and we're pleased that funding for The Lighthouse in London has been extended to March 2022.

"Think it's a great service dedicated to young people and their families. Should have more around the UK"
Parent in London

Given the success of The Lighthouse in London, we'll advocate nationally for the benefits of this model and campaign to have new sites funded and built across the UK.

With support from government and commissioners, we can make the Child Houses model an integral part of the support and services available to children who've experienced abuse.

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If you're worried about sexual exploitation, we have information and advice to protect and help children and young people.

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For young people and professionals / i pobl ifanc a gweithwyr proffesiynol

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for professionals / i gweithwyr proffesiynol

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Resources for professionals / adnodd i gweithwyr proffesiynol

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For young people / i pobl ifanc

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For professionals / i gweithwyr proffesiynol

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Indicators of Sexual Abuse in Children's Drawings

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For young people / i pobl ifanc

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Call Childline on 0800 1111 or talk to them online

For everyone up to the age of 19

Available any time and always free

Childline can tell you about places near you where you can get help

Childline won't tell anyone you've called them, unless you're in danger

If you're worried about a child or young person

If you're concerned about a child or young person who is experiencing or exposed to abuse, please call the local 24-hour helpline on 0808 800 0340 run by Juno Women's Aid

If you're working with a child or young person experiencing abuse

Find information in our Best Practice Library that will help you offer effective support to a child or young person who is experiencing or exposed to domestic abuse, sexual violence or stalking.

If you're worried about forced marriage

Call the Forced Marriage Unit on 0207 008 0151

If you're hurting your partner or being abusive

Call Respect on 0808 802 4040

If you'd like more information on relationships for young people

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Call Childline on 0800 1111 or talk to them online For everyone up to the age of 19 Available any time and always free Childline can tell you about places near you where you can get help Childline won't tell anyone you've called them, unless you're in danger If you're

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For young people / i pobl ifanc

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It doesn't have to be an emergency - you might be looking for guidance and support on issues affecting children. Whatever it is you're worried about, our dedicated child protection specialists will be able to advise and take any necessary action.

Whatever your worry - call us on 0808 800 5000, email [email protected] or submit our online form - we can help. We also have advice about spotting the signs of abuse.

Due to an increase in demand across our service, our voice Helpline is currently operating between the hours of 10am-4pm on Monday to Friday. However, you can email [email protected] at any time. It's free and you don't have to say who you are. If you think a child is in immediate danger, please call the police on 999 straight away.

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It doesn't have to be an emergency - you might be looking for guidance and support on issues affecting children. Whatever it is you're worried about, our dedicated child protection specialists will be able to advise and take any necessary action.

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For young people / i pobl ifanc

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#CountyLines - education film for young people by PC1942

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For young people / i pobl ifanc

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For young people / i pobl ifanc

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Εάν κάποιος με τον οποίον μένεις ή κάποιο μέλος της οικογένειάς σου σε κάνει να φοβάσαι ή σε χτυπάει, δεν χρειάζεται να υποφέρεις σιωπηλά. Το [ RISE (Ανόρθωση, Πληροφόρηση, Ασφάλεια, Ενδυνάμωση)- στο Κάρντιφ] είναι εδώ για να σε υποστηρίξει. Οποιαδήποτε κι αν είναι η ηλικία, το ιστορικό, η εθνικότητα, το καθεστώς μετανάστευσης, ή η μητρική γλώσσα σου - μπορούμε να βοηθήσουμε. Έχουμε ειδικευμένους υπαλλήλους οι οποίοι μπορούν να σε υποστηρίξουν σε θέματα ενδοοικογενειακής βίας, σεξουαλικής βίας, καταναγκαστικού γάμου, ακρωτηριασμού γυναικείων γεννητικών οργάνων, παρακολούθησης και παρενόχλησης. Μπορούμε να συνεργαστούμε μαζί σου μέσω σύνδεσης [ίντερνετ], τηλεφώνου, ή κατ' ιδίαν, περιλαμβανομένης και της χρήσης διερμηνέα. Θα σου δώσουμε την υποστήριξη και την υπεράσπιση που χρειάζεσαι, με το να χτίζουμε πάνω στα δυνατά σημεία σου και να σε υποστηρίζουμε για να κάνεις μακροχρόνιες αλλαγές στη ζωή σου.

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Rise Cardiff - Specialist VAWDASV services

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Εάν κάποιος με τον οποίον μένεις ή κάποιο μέλος της οικογένειάς σου σε κάνει να φοβάσαι ή σε χτυπάει, δεν χρειάζεται να υποφέρεις σιωπηλά. Το [ RISE (Ανόρθωση, Πληροφόρηση, Ασφάλεια, Ενδυνάμωση)- στο Κάρντιφ] είναι εδώ για να σε υποστηρίξει. Οποιαδήποτε κι αν είναι η ηλικία, το ιστορικό, η εθνικότητα, το καθεστώς μετανάστευσης, ή η μητρική γλώσσα σου - μπορούμε να βοηθήσουμε.

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For young people / i pobl ifanc

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For young people / i pobl ifanc

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Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Regional Safeguarding Board

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Organisations working to safeguard children

There are a number of organisations, networks and support groups working within Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan that can offer help and advice. Some of these are listed below.

Cardiff Specific Organisations:

StaySafe is a multi-agency project that aims to keep young people safe in Cardiff in the evenings. The team help keep young people safe and educate them on risk-taking behaviours. There is a StaySafe Facebook page

For school age children Cardiff Against Bullying works with children who are being bullied as well as the perpetrators to break the cycle of bullying. You can get more information on the website www.cardiffagainstbullying.co.uk

The Cardiff Family Information Service can be your first point of contact for information about local services for children, young people and families. Visit their website www.childcareincardiff.info/fis

The Sprout is an interactive website that encourages creativity and direct involvement while providing information on activities and services available to every single young person in Cardiff. Find out more at www.thesprout.co.uk

The Cardiff Youth Service works with young people to develop interesting, challenging and creative opportunities and experiences. Visit their website www.cardiff.gov.uk/youth

Vale of Glamorgan Specific Organisations:

The Vale Family Information Service can be your first point of contact for information about local services for children, young people and families. Visit their website www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/fis

Vale of Glamorgan Youth Service aims to give young people the opportunity, support and information they need to reach their full potential. visit their website

Vale Bullying aims to establish a coordinated, consistent approach to dealing with bullying in the Vale of Glamorgan schools, youth and community settings. Visit www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/bullying

There are also several national organisations working to help protect children and can offer advice and support on different subjects.

Drug and Alcohol misuse - If you are worried about a problem with alcohol or drugs there is a young persons substance misuse service in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. The substance misuse nurses can carry out interventions, support and educate young people, signpost them to different services and offer advice to parents and carers. They can be contacted directly on 029 2090 7675 or 029 2090 7678.

Barnardo's Cymru - provides 88 services across the country working with vulnerable children, young people, families and communities, helping them to build a better future. Every Barnardo's service is different but each believes in the potential in every child and young person, no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through. www.barnardos.org.uk/wales

Meic - an advocacy, information and advice helpline for children and young people in Wales. Find out more about MEIC here www.meiccymru.org. If your life is in a bit of a tangle or you have a problem and need to speak to or contact someone, MEIC is for you. You can talk to Meic 24/7 by telephone, text message and an instant chat service online

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Helpful organisations - Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Regional Safeguarding Board

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There are a number of organisations, networks and support groups working within Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan that can offer help and advice. Some of these are listed below. StaySafe is a multi-agency project that aims to keep young people safe in Cardiff in the evenings.

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For young people / i pobl ifanc

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We support thousands of children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse. We make them safe and help them recover.

What is child sexual abuse?

It involves forcing or persuading a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. This includes acts that involve physical contact such as:

assault by penetration

non-penetrative acts (e.g. masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching)

It also includes:

involving children in looking at (or making) sexual images

watching sexual acts

encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways

grooming a child (including via the internet)

How we help

We've been supporting children and young people affected by sexual abuse since 1994. At the end of 2019/20 we were running 76 child abuse and exploitation services across the UK, including:

therapy and counselling

supporting children and young people through court proceedings when abusers are prosecuted

supporting the wider family

increasing public awareness of sexual abuse

It's vital that adults are aware of the issue so that they can help a child who might be affected.

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We support thousands of children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse. We make them safe and help them recover. It involves forcing or persuading a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening.

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For young people / i pobl ifanc

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We know that victims of rape and sexual violence often prefer not to report their experiences, for a variety of reasons. In addition, victims of female genital mutilation and 'honour-based' violence and coercion may be afraid to report the crime for family or cultural reasons.

So we work with local police forces and strategic partners to encourage reporting, and to ensure that victims who come forward get support that's tailored to their individual needs and circumstances.

Sexual violence and exploitation is always unacceptable and the responsibility for the behaviour always rests with the perpetrator.

The impact of sexual violence

As well as suffering direct hurt and abuse, there are other effects on victims:

Those who experience childhood sexual abuse, or sexual violence as a child or young person may be vulnerable to further abuse and exploitation.

Those victims who are particularly vulnerable because of disabilities, health or social needs may need support in recognising what has happened to them.

Very few cases get to court, and when they do victims and witnesses often find the process incredibly difficult. Well-supported victims are usually more willing to work with criminal justice agencies and help bring offenders to justice.

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We know that victims of rape and sexual violence often prefer not to report their experiences, for a variety of reasons. In addition, victims of female genital mutilation and 'honour-based' violence and coercion may be afraid to report the crime for family or cultural reasons.

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For young people / i pobl ifanc

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Children and young people can be groomed online or in the real world, by a stranger or by someone they know. If you’re worried about a child, we have advice to help.

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For young people / i pobl ifanc

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If someone's being groomed or hurt, they might:

keep secrets, or lie about what's happened

feel scared to talk about things, or avoid talking about it

suddenly have money, or new things like clothes or phones that they can't explain

suddenly change, or avoid spending time with other people

Lots of things can make someone change suddenly, but if you're worried then it's okay to ask for support.

It can help to share what's making you worried with the person you know, or to get help from an adult you trust.

You can talk to us about anything that's happening, even if it's about someone else. Childline is confidential, and you can find out more about that here.

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Grooming is when someone builds your trust and makes a connection with you to get you to do something sexual or illegal.

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For parent / i rhieni

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For professionals / i gweithwyr proffesiynol

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Who's this guidance for?

Criminal exploitation of children, young people and vulnerable adults for the supply of drugs, and transportation of the associated money and weapons, has a devastating impact on victims, families and local communities but is often not recognised by those who are best placed to spot it. This guidance is intended to explain the nature of this harm to enable practitioners to recognise its signs and respond appropriately so that victims and potential victims get the protection and support they need.

This guidance is primarily aimed at frontline staff in England and Wales who work with children, young people and vulnerable adults. This includes professionals working in:

adult social care, children's social care and early help/family support

the benefits system

prisons, probation and youth justice

multi-agency partnerships

related partner organisations, for example in the voluntary sector.

The signs and vulnerabilities associated with county lines exploitation may present differently to different professionals and safeguarding processes will vary depending on local contexts. However, the information provided here is intended to be useful to all. This document provides links to other resources to assist professionals to consider in further detail how this guidance relates to their role and responsibilities. It may also be helpful for carers, parents and others in the community, although they are not the primary audience.

This guidance does not attempt to provide information about the entirety of the county lines issue or the UK Government's response.

It has been produced by the Home Office in co-operation with other government departments, the Welsh Government, statutory agencies and voluntary sector partners.

A number of real-life case studies are provided to illustrate some of the ways exploitation can take place and professionals have identified victims and to demonstrate some of the good practices in responding.

What is county lines exploitation?

"County lines" is a violent and exploitative form of drug distribution. A common feature of county lines is the exploitation of children, young people and vulnerable adults who are instructed to deliver and/or store drugs, and associated money or weapons, to dealers or drug users, locally or in other counties.

The UK Government defines county lines as:

"County lines is a term used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into one or more importing areas within the UK, using dedicated mobile phone lines or other form of "deal line". They are likely to exploit children and vulnerable adults to move and store the drugs and money and they will often use coercion, intimidation, violence (including sexual violence) and weapons." ( Serious Violence Strategy)

While county lines victims are not limited to under 18 year olds, where a child is exploited, it is often described as child criminal exploitation.

The UK Government defines child criminal exploitation as:

"Child criminal exploitation is common in county lines and occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18. The victim may have been criminally exploited even if the activity appears consensual. Child criminal exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology." ( Serious Violence Strategy)

Criminal exploitation of children is broader than just county lines and includes, for instance, children forced to work on cannabis farms or to commit theft. However, many of the characteristics of county lines exploitation will be present in other forms of child criminal exploitation. Likewise, victims of county lines may also experience other overlapping forms of exploitation, such as sexual, in addition to criminal.

Forms and methods of exploitation

County lines exploitation can be perpetrated by individuals or groups of any gender or nationality and can appear unsophisticated or organised. It is typified by some form of power imbalance, which perpetrators use to force, coerce, groom and/or entice victims into county lines activity. They can employ several methods to do so, such as:

offering an exchange - carrying drugs in return for something, such as money, clothes, drugs, status, protection or perceived friendship, a sense of belonging or identity, or affection;

physical violence or threats of violence - used to intimidate and punish victims and their families and can involve weapons, including knives and firearms;

abduction or kidnapping - sometimes victims are forcibly moved and held in a location away from home;

emotional abuse or psychological coercive control - by manipulating, threatening, controlling or monitoring the movements of the victim;

sexual abuse and exploitation - this can be experienced by all genders;

blackmail - by forcing victims to commit a crime so they can hold it over them and threaten to report it if they do not comply;

the use of social media, messaging apps, gaming sites and other online platforms - including marketplace websites and smart TVs to target and communicate with victims. These modes are used by exploiters to falsely build online trusted relationships, or to post fraudulent job adverts which seem legitimate, or to cyberstalk victims in order to groom, entrap and coerce them into county lines activity;

"cuckooing" (also known as "forced home invasion") - a tactic used by criminals, typically drug dealers, to take over the homes of vulnerable individuals, such as care leavers or those with addiction, physical or mental health issues, and use the property as a base for criminal activity. This is a common characteristic of the county lines business model and can occur in a range of settings such as rental and private properties, student accommodation, prisons, and commercial properties;

coerced internal concealment (also known as "plugging") - the practice whereby a child or vulnerable adult is controlled or coerced into concealing drugs internally as a method of transportation to avoid detection. Drugs or sim cards are usually concealed within a condom or similar packaging and inserted into a bodily orifice (rectum or vagina) using lubricant, or swallowed;

debt bondage - a form of entrapment when a victim owes money to their exploiters and is made to repay their debt, either financially or through another means such as transporting drugs. The exploiter may groom the victim by initially providing money or goods which the victim will then be made to pay back. The exploiter may also deliberately manufacture a debt, for example by staging a robbery of drugs or cash in the victim's possession in order to extort money from families or to ensure the victim will continue to perform tasks for them. The debt may also be inherited from parents and siblings; and

financial exploitation - financial exploitation can take many forms. In this context, we use the term to describe exploitation which takes place for the purpose of money laundering. This is when criminals target children and adults at risk and take advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate, or deceive them into facilitating the movement of illicit funds. This can include physical cash and/or payments through financial products, such as bank and cryptocurrency accounts.

Case study (British Transport Police)

Who is vulnerable to county lines exploitation?

Any child, young person or vulnerable adult could be a victim of county lines exploitation as exploiters continue to adapt who they target to avoid detection.

age: 15-17 year olds make up the majority of the vulnerable people involved in county lines but children of primary school age and adults are also known to be targeted (National County Lines Coordination Centre).

sex/gender: people of all genders can be exploited. Women and girls may be exploited to perform different roles and may experience other forms of harm alongside and so are often under-identified as victims of criminal exploitation - professionals should not make assumptions when working with a girl or young woman about the intervention required.

ethnicity: people from all ethnicities and nationalities are targeted and the demographics of victims of exploitation vary across England and Wales. In some areas, there is an over-representation of people from black and mixed ethnic groups, while in others, victims are mainly white.

location: county lines are widespread nationally, in rural and urban areas, and while they can involve the movement of drugs across county borders from one area of the UK to another, some lines supply the drugs market locally, within the same town, city or county in which they originate. County lines grooming can take place in a range of settings, including in homes, public spaces, schools and universities, prisons and youth offender institutions as well as online.

Some of the factors that may heighten a person's vulnerability include:

having contact with the criminal justice system - even for minor offences that do not appear to be related to county lines;

having experience of neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse/exploitation or a lack of a safe/stable home environment, now or in the past (including domestic abuse, parental substance misuse or parental criminal involvement) - trauma, including adverse childhood experiences, can negatively impact on an individual's ability to develop trusted relationships or access support services;

social isolation or social difficulties - the lack of a support network can mean someone is less able to get help;

economic vulnerability - offers of material possessions or money for victims or their family may be more readily accepted out of a feeling of necessity and lack of legitimate financial alternatives;

homelessness or insecure accommodation status - there is a lack of a safe environment to provide security and privacy;

connections with other people in gangs - some individuals are targeted through family or friends who are already involved in criminal activity themselves and sometimes a drug debt owed by them is passed on to peers or family members;

having a physical or learning disability, or being neurodivergent - victims may be less able to recognise they are being exploited, or less able to communicate it or access support;

having mental health issues - exploiters may target poor emotional wellbeing or low self-esteem;

having substance misuse issues - victims are sometimes given substances in lieu of payment;

being in or leaving care - the context behind why a person is brought into care can heighten a person's vulnerability in itself, while those in semi- independent/independent accommodation, placed out-of-area or leaving care may have less access to support networks;

being excluded from mainstream education, and/or a pupil at an alternative provision such as a pupil referral unit - factors influencing a child's exclusion may indicate they are exposed to exploitation, while being disengaged from meaningful activity and peers can evoke feelings of disenfranchisement and, for those with a reduced timetable or not attending school at all, time spent unsupervised can offer opportunities for exploitation; and

insecure immigration status - for example, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and refugees may have a number of vulnerability factors that can increase their exposure to exploitation, including social/cultural isolation on arrival to the country and potentially links to organised crime from their journey.

It is important to remember that risk factors such as these are never the cause of a vulnerable person's exploitation into county lines activity; rather, they give rise to the imbalance of power which perpetrators often seek to abuse.

Moreover, there are recorded cases of exploitation of individuals with no known risk factors and who were not previously known to services (sometimes referred to as "clean skins" by exploiters), as they were deemed less likely to attract attention from authorities.

Signs to look out for

Professionals should not expect victims to report their exploitation as they may not identify or be able to express that they are being exploited. They may also be too afraid to tell professionals what is happening for fear of retaliation by their exploiter.

However, their exploitation through county lines often leaves signs. Any sudden changes in a person's lifestyle should be discussed with them.

Some potential signs of county lines exploitation include, but are not limited to:

Behaviours

Possessions

unexplained acquisition of money, clothes, or mobile phones;

excessive receipt of texts/phone calls and/or having multiple sim cards or handsets - this could be a 'burner phone', often an older model which uses an unregistered sim card, but it may also be a smart phone which can utilise web-based apps without a phone number;

carrying or storing weapons;

misuse of substances or possession of drugs or drug paraphernalia such as discarded needles, scales, small snappy bags or cling film;

possession of train tickets for unusual train journeys; and

possession of a rucksack or a bag that they are very attached to or will not put down.

Relationships

Appearance

suspicion of physical assault/unexplained injuries - these tend to be visible but minor injuries which are issued as a threat, such as cigarette burns or small cuts, but can also be much more serious life-threatening injuries, such as stab wounds.

Signs to look out for online include:

Signs of a cuckooed property include:

Signs of coerced internal concealment include:

refusing to consume food or drink;

being in possession of lubricants, condoms or similar packaging;

a dishevelled appearance with stained clothing; and

being physically unwell.

Signs of financial exploitation or a debt bondage include:

What to do if you are concerned

Safeguarding

Any child, young person or vulnerable adult who you think may be at risk of county lines exploitation requires a safeguarding response.

The statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children sets out what professionals and organisations in England need to do, individually and in partnership with other agencies, to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.

Working Together highlights that everyone who works with children has a responsibility for keeping them safe and that multi-agency working and information sharing is essential to ensure that children and families receive the right help at the right time. Working Together makes clear that in all welfare and safeguarding enquiries, a child-centred approach should be adopted by practitioners to ensure that the best interests of the child are considered at all times.

Working Together also sets out further information about the equal and shared duty on the three safeguarding partners (the local authority, health and police) to make arrangements to work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in a local area.

Working Together provides further information about the referral process for reporting concerns about the safety or welfare of a child and the steps that practitioners should take when working together to assess and provide services for children who may be in need, including those suffering harm. Working Together makes clear that all local areas should have a local protocol in place that sets out how a case will be managed once a child is referred to children's social care.

If you believe a person is at immediate risk of harm:

Contact the police. Call 999 now.

If a person is not at immediate risk of harm:

Follow your local safeguarding guidance and ensure this information is shared with local authority social services and the police. Police involvement should not be limited to instances of immediate risk of harm.

The first step is usually to contact your designated safeguarding lead within your organisation who should complete a safeguarding referral to the local authority responsible for a child or vulnerable adult. If you do not know who this is, refer to your manager. Your designated safeguarding lead has the responsibility for linking in with your local authority's social services, but you should follow up to ensure action is taken. You should not assume a colleague, or another professional will take action that might be critical in keeping a vulnerable person safe.

Your local authority's social services will then consider with safeguarding partner agencies whether any further actions are necessary to protect the vulnerable person.

If you are not satisfied with the local authority's response, you should follow up on your concerns by discussing these with your safeguarding lead or escalating them via the local escalation procedure.

Further information on safeguarding can be found in the further resources section of this guidance.

Modern slavery and human trafficking

Criminal exploitation is a form of modern slavery and as such, if you are a designated First Responder for the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), you must also refer any child you suspect of being a potential victim of modern slavery to the NRM using the online referral form. In cases involving adults you must refer them where they provide informed consent for you to do so. Where an adult does not consent, statutory First Responders still have a 'Duty to Notify' the Home Office that they have encountered a potential victim. In all cases, First Responders should consider whether it is appropriate to also refer the potential adult victim to local authority adult safeguarding services. The NRM is a framework for identifying potential victims of modern slavery and ensuring they receive the appropriate support. Any referral should be after appropriate safeguarding steps have been taken and in light of any required multi-agency discussions. If you are not a designated First Responder for the NRM you should work with a designated First Responder who may make such a referral where deemed appropriate.

Following referral, a Competent Authority decision maker will consider the case and make a Reasonable Grounds decision. The Reasonable Grounds threshold is an objective one. The decision maker must agree with the statement that there are "reasonable grounds to believe that a person is a victim of modern slavery (human trafficking or slavery, servitude, or forced or compulsory labour)". A decision maker should take into account all of the information available, including the victim's account and any other relevant information that supports or undermines it, but should also consider whether, in the circumstances of the case, it is reasonable to expect supporting evidence or corroborating information to be available. Therefore, when a referral is made the first responder should consider what supporting evidence or corroborating information can be provided with it to support a decision.

Organisations in Wales should follow the Wales Modern Slavery Safeguarding Pathway.

Victims of modern slavery are also provided a statutory defence for certain criminal offences under Section 45 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Further information on the NRM, including referral and decision-making processes for adults and children, available support and the Section 45 defence can be found in the further resources section of this guidance.

In custody

If an individual in custody is suspected to have experienced exploitation, police officers must use their local safeguarding arrangements to respond to safety and welfare concerns. Being arrested can be a key reachable moment and so a joined-up multi-agency approach should be used to prevent further exploitation.

Additional information on responsibilities towards children in custody can be found in the further resources section of this guidance.

Coerced internal concealment

A victim who has been coerced into internally concealing drugs may have suffered serious physical harm as a result of the insertion or forced removal of items and so may require immediate medical treatment. In addition, they may require ongoing support to address their emotional and psychological needs.

Additional information on responsibilities where there is suspected coerced internal concealment, including on intimate searches, can be found in the further resources section of this guidance.

Debt bondage and financial exploitation

Responding to debt bondage and financial exploitation is complex. The confiscation of money or drugs from victims can unintentionally create a debt that they will be forced to pay off and supporting attempts to make payments are unlikely to result in debts being written off. It is therefore important that professionals provide support and open dialogue to discuss risks with victims, including to their families, and consider safety plans and disruption interventions to break the cycle of exploitation.

Additional guidance can be found in the further resources section of this document.

Disruption

Targeting and disrupting the perpetrators of county lines exploitation is an integral part of protecting victims. Likewise, reporting safeguarding concerns can support disruption activity and investigations.

There is a range of drugs, modern slavery, weapons, violence and sexual offences that can be charged against county lines perpetrators on a case-by-case basis.

There is also a range of civil orders which can be applied for to disrupt perpetrators, including but not limited to: Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders and Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Orders; Anti-Social Behaviour Civil Injunctions; and Drug Dealing Telecommunication Restriction Orders. Non-statutory tools are also available such as Child Abduction Warning Notices (CAWNS).

Cuckooing

In cases of cuckooing, the police, local authorities and housing associations can take action to evict the offenders and support the victim to regain control of their property through the application of civil orders such as Closure Orders and Community Protection Notices which can be used to close down premises that are being used for criminal activities. You should consider how the use of any order will impact on the victim's safety.

Additional information on disruption tools and tactics can be found in the further resources section of this guidance.

Case study (North Wales Police)

Ways of working

Putting the victim first

When working with an individual suspected of being exploited by county lines, their activity may appear consensual, they may not recognise that they are being exploited and the distinction between victim and perpetrator may appear unclear. This may be the case especially for those transitioning into adulthood.

However, individuals who have been groomed and exploited into criminal activity have not freely chosen to be involved, cannot consent to being exploited and so should be seen as victims first and foremost.

It is also important to recognise that they are likely to have had traumatic experiences which they may have begun to normalise. You should consider responses from a trauma- informed perspective and take an approach that puts the child, young person or vulnerable adult first, including involving them in the safeguarding process and discussing next steps with them to build their trust.

Case study (Catch22)

Understanding the risks

When working with a suspected victim of county lines, have professional curiosity, keep a log of activity and save any evidence related to the exploitation, including items like train tickets and receipts from out of the area, as well as messages, images or videos online. Use reachable moments to connect with the vulnerable person and actively seek inputs from different professional perspectives to build a picture of the whole story.

Partnerships and multi-agency working

Effective collaboration and information sharing between agencies is essential to protecting victims and disrupting offenders. It is therefore important to provide as much information as possible as part of the safeguarding referral process. This will allow any assessment to consider all the available evidence to address harm.

If you are aware that a potential victim may have come from / travelled to another area as part of their involvement in county lines, you should include this information to enable liaison between safeguarding agencies in the different areas. However, remember that this cross-county travel is not necessary - where you have concerns about criminal exploitation for the supply of drugs locally, victims will need safeguarding in the same way. Likewise, the absence of a phone line for supply of the drugs should not prevent you from making a safeguarding referral as county lines activity can be conducted online. The type of technology used should not determine whether action is taken to safeguard victims.

Proactive sharing of other contextual information, such as assessments that have been undertaken, referrals for support or other measures that are in place for a vulnerable person will help partners act more effectively.

You should understand the multi-agency safeguarding arrangements and groups you can report information into locally which can enable this collaboration, including but not limited to: child protection strategy meetings, Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hubs, Multi-Agency Child Exploitation panels (or equivalent), Community Safety Partnerships, Combating Drugs Partnerships, Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements.

In addition, be aware of Violence Reduction Units and other commissioned services available locally and nationally provided by other sectors which can deliver specialist support interventions to vulnerable people of concern.

Parents and families should also be considered safeguarding partners. Listen to their concerns seriously and discuss solutions with them as they could help practitioners recognise what will work best for their child.

Other useful resources

County lines and Child Criminal Exploitation

National County Lines Coordination Centre, County Lines Awareness Video - a 10 minute video created in partnership with Sketchups, discussing the county lines methodology and how this is impacting children, young people and vulnerable adults, partners, law enforcement and society.

The Children's Society, #LookCLoser exploitation awareness campaign - funded by the Home Office and run in partnership with the National County Lines Coordination Centre and British Transport Police, which asks everyone to play a role in spotting the signs of county lines and other forms of child exploitation and taking action to ensure these children get help.

The Children's Society, County lines and criminal exploitation toolkit - toolkit for supporting young people who are at risk of or being trafficked for the purpose of criminal exploitation.

Sexual abuse and exploitation

Debt bondage and financial exploitation

Coerced internal concealment

Safeguarding

Modern slavery and human trafficking

Disruption

Home Office, Child exploitation disruption toolkit - disruption tactics for those working to safeguard children and young people under the age of 18 from sexual and criminal exploitation.

Ways of working

Language

Police and CPS

Crown Prosecution Service, CPS county lines offending guidance - sets out the approach of the police and the CPS to county lines offending, including the safeguarding of vulnerable persons, and the investigation and prosecution of criminal offences.

Home Office, Concordat on children in custody - statutory guidance for police forces and local authorities in England on their responsibilities towards children in custody.

College of Policing, Risk and associated investigations - authorised professional practice for policing on county lines and child criminal exploitation.

College of Policing, Children and young persons - authorised professionals practice for policing on children and young people.

College of Policing, Adults at risk - authorised professional practice for policing on adults at risk.

Education

Department for Education, Keeping children safe in education - statutory guidance for schools and colleges in England on the legal duties that must be followed to safeguard children.

Health

Prisons, probation and youth justice

Local government

Wales

Support for victims

Professionals can refer victims and families to the following Home Office-funded specialist support services:

Catch22 County Lines Support and Rescue - a specialist support and rescue service in London, West Midlands, Merseyside and Greater Manchester for young people up to the age of 25 and their families who are criminally exploited through county lines.

Missing People's SafeCall - a confidential and anonymous helpline and support service for young people and family members in England and Wales that are affected by county lines and criminal exploitation. The service also provides confidential support and advice for professionals in relation to their work with an exploited young person or family. Call or text 116000 for free, 9am to 11pm, 7 days a week.

Barnardo's - runs the specialist Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship Service (ICTGS) in 17 sites in England and Wales, providing an independent source of advice and advocacy for children who have been trafficked and somebody who can speak up on their behalf. ICTGs are provided in addition to the statutory support provided by local authorities to all children in their area.

Other organisations that offer further information, advice or direct support in some areas of the county include (this is not an exhaustive list):

Report a concern

Police - call 999 in an emergency, call 101 for non-emergency enquiries.

British Transport Police - text 61016 or use the Railway Guardian app.

Action Fraud - call 0300 123 2040 or visit the website.

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Criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults: county lines

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Criminal exploitation of children, young people and vulnerable adults for the supply of drugs, and transportation of the associated money and weapons, has a devastating impact on victims, families and local communities but is often not recognised by those who are best placed to spot it.

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For young people / i gweithwyr proffesiynol

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For parents / i rhieni

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For professionals and parents / i rhieni a gweithwyr proffesiynol

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Parents Against Child Exploitation (Pace) UK

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This 20/30 minute e-learning course is for parents and professionals who work alongside children and young people:

find out more about child sexual exploitation

learn the signs and indicators of when a child might be being exploited

understand the impact child sexual exploitation can have on families

know what to do if you suspect a child might be at risk of this abuse.

Sign up here

Interested in further training with Pace?

Pace run one day courses and are the country's only provider of the Level 4 Accredited Award in CSE (ACSEP).
Find out about our other courses Sign up to our training bulletin
Further information

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Keep Them Safe: free online CSE training

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Pace works alongside parents and carers of children who are - or are at risk of being - exploited by perpetrators external to the family. We offer guidance and training to professionals on how child exploitation affects the whole family.

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For professionals / i gweithwyr professiynol

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The 'Keeping Safe?' project, is a three year study funded by the Welsh Government through Health and Care Research Wales, conducted by a team of researchers in School of Social Sciences, led by Dr Sophie Hallett.

The aim of this study is to conduct an original investigation into the outcomes for children and young people assessed as being 'at risk' of sexual exploitation.
Download the report
Project materials

A range of free visual materials have been developed from the research, including a series of 'Check your thinking cards'.

These have been created as a way of sharing core findings and key messages from the research, and have been designed for use as a reflective/discussion tool for practitioners and professionals working with children and young people.

They can be used in pairs, teams or multi-agency settings to facilitate discussion and shared learning, but they can also be used individually.

To find out more or to request the materials please contact Halletts1@cardiff.ac.uk.

Cards and text by Sophie Hallett. All graphic design and illustrations by Laura Sorvala www.laurasorvala.com

The project

The relatively recent introduction of child sexual exploitation (CSE) to social care policy and practice means that there has been little opportunity to consider the effectiveness of assessment tools, new interventions and service responses, in relation to the outcomes for young people experiencing these harms and in the receipt of such support.

The research built on a unique opportunity to track the outcomes of the first young people in Wales to be assessed for their risk in relation to CSE, ten years ago.

We analysed the casefiles of 205 children aged between 9 and 18 years old who were involved with a children's services department in a local authority in Wales in 2006. They all had their cases reviewed in 2006 as part of an exercise for developing the Sexual Exploitation Risk Assessment Framework (SERAF) in Wales.

We looked at their background characteristics, living circumstances, victimisation experiences, family and peer relations, complex needs, interventions and their impact, and outcomes at and after case closure.

We tracked what happened to these young people over the next ten years, what actions were taken, what interventions were mobilised, if there were missed opportunities for intervention, and what worked (and, conversely, what didn't) to reduce risk and create positive outcomes.

We also spoke to young people who are currently involved with social services and about whom there are concerns over sexual exploitation, and we also spoke to those involved in supporting them. This included residential workers, foster carers, and social workers. We spent time in a children's home too.

We wanted to find out what they thought about the effectiveness of interventions, and what could be done to better support and protect young people at risk of CSE. We also wanted to find out the challenges and opportunities involved in their work with young people. To support the participation of young people in the project, creative methods of interviewing were used, such as drawing and word activities.

An advisory group comprising multi-agency practitioners and policy makers guided the development of the research, its recommendations and the development of creative tools and materials for use as tools in practitioner training and intervention work with young people.

Young people were also involved throughout the research process as a steering group who provided advice on all aspects of the research project and its design.

Contact

If you would like any further information on the project please email Dr Sophie Hallett or phone +44 (0)29 2087 6909.

The project team

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Keeping Safe? An analysis of the outcomes of work with sexually exploited young people in Wales

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The 'Keeping Safe?' project, is a three year study funded by the Welsh Government through Health and Care Research Wales, conducted by a team of researchers in School of Social Sciences, led by Dr Sophie Hallett. The aim of this study is to conduct an original investigation into the outcomes for children and young people assessed as being 'at risk' of sexual exploitation.

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For parents and carers / i rhieni

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For young people / i pobl ifanc

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For parents and young people / i rhieni a pobl ifanc

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For young people

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7 Signs of Grooming by a Sexual Predator

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For professionals / i gweithwyr proffesiynol

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Transeferable skills into employment , training and education

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For young people / i pobl ifanc