South Yorkshire youngsters at risk of criminal gang grooming during pandemic
South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Billings says teens are vulnerable to drugs gangs during lockdown
Last updated 10th Feb 2021
South Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner says the pandemic is leaving more teenagers vulnerable to being groomed into crime by drugs gangs.
Alan Billings tells us with kids out of school and spending more online they're more vulnerable to criminal exploitation. He said: "Parents are not always aware of what their children are doing online and the gangs know that, so that is where grooming often begins now.
"The older young people - those who were perhaps looking forward to going to college or university - some of those are in despair because of what has happened with their exams, so they are often targets now for some of these gangs."
The government is investing £1.6 million in our county’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) which tries to tackle the root causes of violent crime.
Dr. Billings said: "It is going to have an impact on the way we do things. I think the VRU can help us think through what is happening in communities, what is happening with children and young people and how are they being exposed or drawn into the violence as a consequence of all that."
The team at the unit say they will look into long term solutions to make sure they can support young people in the best way through the rest of the pandemic.