436 victims of child criminal exploitation recorded in West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire police have launched a new campaign to educate parents on the signs
West Yorkshire Police have launched a new campaign to educate parents about the signs of Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) and to encourage people to come forward.
It can involve several types of crime, including: drugs, County Lines, the carrying of weapons, money muling and serious acquisitive crime.
"There was no awareness about this issue at all, that's how my family got away with it."
New data shows there were a total a 436 victims of child criminal exploitation recorded in West Yorkshire, most of them were boys aged between 13 and 18 years old.
Jasvinder Sanghera, the independent safeguarding chair for the children's board, was forced to marry a stranger at just 14 years, she said:
"There was no awareness about this issue at all, that's how my family got away with it.
"Campaigns are so important to raise awareness of an issue that is hidden, it's giving it a voice.
"It affects your ability to carry out a normal life actually, it doesn't just rob you of a childhood, it robs you of adulthood too."
Detective chief inspector Fiona Gaffney said:
"They get a debt, they get a life that they perhaps didn't previously have, then the crime can escalate and can end up in some serious criminality, taking part in assaults or serious high level drug dealing.
"Children will have to commit crime, because they are being exploited, so we want to make sure we are dealing with these children correctly, not putting them into the criminal justice system."
Signs to look out for:
A sudden change in attitude, they become secretive or disrespectful.
They start making lots of repeat journeys without any real explanation.
Evidence of travelling to places they wouldn’t normally go for example used bus or train tickets
They go missing and are found in areas away from home
They have more money and can afford expensive items such as phones/ designer clothes
Their appearance may change. They could be wearing new designer clothes or the opposite appear dirty and dishevelled
They could appear to have lots of new friends who are possibly older.
They become distant and there could be signs of harm of depression and they start missing school
“By drawing attention to the significance of this emerging threat and confronting it in a unified approach, we can best protect those we all love and care for.”
West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Mark Burns-Williamson OBE added:
“I only recently spoke at the launch of an online regional conference in Bradford about Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) and how we must work in close partnership to address it.
“I am therefore extremely supportive of this latest awareness campaign, as it will highlight better understanding of the ways in which CCE can manifest itself within our young people and communities, helping to identify its presence to take the necessary action.
“By drawing attention to the significance of this emerging threat and confronting it in a unified approach, we can best protect those we all love and care for.”
Director of the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit, Chief Superintendent Jackie Marsh said:
“The relationship between Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) and serious violence is well documented and transcends a number of other crimes.
“The funding we have put towards this campaign will not only help to raise awareness of the signs, but also underline our collective responsibilities in preventing it.
“Removing and reducing the associated risks of serious violence and exploitation among our young people is one of our key objectives at the VRU.
“By confronting the subject in this way is an important step in our collective efforts to protect those who are often the most vulnerable within our communities.”