25th November 2024

Joint efforts crucial to protecting children from criminal exploitation

Research conducted by the Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE) partnership, funded by Health and Care Research Wales, underlines the importance of a coordinated, multi-agency approach to effectively tackle County Lines.

The study, led by Dr Nina Maxwell, Joint Specialty Lead for Social Care at Health and Care Research Wales, emphasises that collaboration between schools, social services, healthcare providers and law enforcement is critical for identifying and protecting vulnerable individuals who are at risk of being exploited by criminal networks.

The ongoing threat posed by County Lines drugs gangs, which transports illegal drugs from urban centres to smaller towns and rural areas, has become a pressing issue in communities across the UK including west Wales.

Organised criminal groups (OCGs) exploit vulnerable individuals, particularly children and those facing mental health or addiction challenges, to carry out these operations.

According to the study, one of the key challenges is the evolving tactics of OCGs, who have become increasingly sophisticated in their methods. Criminal gangs are now using social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat to groom and recruit young people, making it more difficult for authorities to detect their activities.

Dr Maxwell said: “The Complex Safeguarding Wales website, co-produced by young people, parents and professionals, serves as an important resource in this effort.

“It offers valuable information for parents and community members on how to recognise the signs of child criminal exploitation and provides guidance on what to do if a child goes missing or is arrested.”

She added: “We are working closely with organisations like Action for Children to deliver training for professionals who work with children affected by criminal exploitation.

“This training aims to equip educators, social workers, and healthcare providers with the tools they need to support at-risk youth and intervene before they are drawn into criminal activity.”

Dr Maxwell concluded: “This research has paved the way for a new Health and Care Research Wales-funded study, which will take a deeper look at referral pathways and service outcomes for children who have been criminally exploited.”