Related pages in this section:
- Criminal Exploitation and County Lines [1]
- Child Sexual Exploitation [2]
- Dorset Child Exploitation Toolkit [3]
- Child Exploitation – Useful Information and support [4]
What is Child Exploitation?
Children and young people may be vulnerable to abuse or exploitation from within their family and from individuals they come across in their day-to-day lives. These threats can take a variety of different forms, including: sexual, physical and emotional abuse; neglect; exploitation by criminal gangs and organised crime groups; trafficking; online abuse; sexual exploitation and the influences of extremism leading to radicalisation.
Children who are exploited are often vulnerable because of chaotic or traumatic experiences in their lives, making them targets for perpetrators, gangs and networks.
Supporting Children at risk of, or experiencing child exploitation
It is imperative that children considered to be at risk of exploitation always receive support that is commensurate with the risks they face. This can range from prevention work for those children considered low risk; raising awareness and educating them about the risks of exploitation through to direct intervention with the child with the aim to reduce their current risk or provide support and interventions if they have been exploited. It is also important to consider the role of parents and the support that they may require to enable them to better inform, support or protect their child.
A broad view of safeguarding is therefore required when considering the exploitation of children and young people. This includes child sexual exploitation, missing children, gangs, county lines, modern slavery and all forms of criminal exploitation.
What to do if you are worried about Child Exploitation:
Report anything you see as suspicious as intelligence to Dorset Police using the Partner Information Sharing and Request Form [5].
The Information Sharing & Request Form [5] offers a multi-agency system of sharing information with Dorset Police to help keep children and young people safe. It should be used to provide details of any concerns about individuals or groups who pose a risk to children and young people through exploitation, targeting and abusing sexually or through other criminal means such as county line drug lines and drug supply
The form focuses specifically on the behaviours or actions of alleged, suspected or known perpetrators. Information you share could corroborate information that is already suspected or support positive disruptive action being taken.
NEVER assume someone else has passed on the information you have. Duplicate information is better than none.
As a parent or member of the public – if you have concerns regarding a young person’s welfare:
Call Police on 999 if in immediate danger
MASH BCP area: 01202 123334 (9am- 5pm Monday to Friday; 01202 738256 after 5pm and weekends)
Dorset Family Support and Advice Line via 01305 228558 or email familysupportandadviceline@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk [6]
Or anonymously through Crimestoppers: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/ [7] or 0800 555 111
Training
The Pan-Dorset Training Service are currently delivering training on Child Criminal Exploitation – County Lines. This is suitable for all practitioners and managers who work with children, whether they are from social care, police, health, education, other statutory or voluntary services. The training covers lived experience of county lines from grooming through to becoming deeply entrenched with gangs. Gaps and indicators of young people becoming involved with county lines are covered along with the challenges faced by professionals attempting to engage with young people.
TO BOOK please go to Dorset Nexus [8] and click on Training and Events. If you enter ‘Pan-Dorset’ in the search box you will see all Pan-Dorset SCP courses listed.