Dangers of Exploitation
Child criminal exploitation (CCE) occurs when someone manipulates or coerces a child into committing crimes or taking part in illegal activity for someone else’s benefit. This can include:
Financial gain: Using a child to sell drugs, steal, or commit fraud.
Sexual exploitation: Coercing a child into sexual activities for someone else’s benefit.
Labour or personal advantage: Forcing a child to work illegally or perform tasks that benefit an adult or group.
Any child can be exploited regardless of gender, ethnicity or background. A child can not consent to exploitation.
FACT:
There are over 14000 children across England and Wales that Children’s Services have identified as being at risk of criminal exploitation.
Some of the dangers that come with exploitation:
Joe would get very frustrated and angry easily, it was almost like he had too much going on in his head.
Joe was arrested several times, once he was found in a car that was stopped on the way back from London with older people (trafficking).
Sometimes Joe had injuries including bruises and cuts. Joe would make up unbelievable story’s as to how he received them.
- Treats, blackmail and violence
- Being forced to commit crimes
- Gang affiliation
- Not being able to leave or cut off ties with the gang
- Having the safety of you or your friends/family threated
- Risk of physical harm, sexual abuse and rape
- Risk of emotional abuse
- Risk of severe injury or death
- Drug and alcohol abuse
- Long term impact on education and employment options
- Risk of trafficking
- Being arrested including for crime committed by others that they have not directly committed, this is called ‘Joint enterprise’.
- Criminal record