Specialist support for children at risk of exploitation

Education Secretary Damian Hinds has launched a new programme to provide better support from specialists for children most at risk of being targeted by gangs or violent crime.

The new ‘Tackling Child Exploitation Support Programme’, backed by £2 million of government funding, is designed to improve how different local areas respond to child exploitation – such as gang, ‘county lines’ drug dealing, online grooming, sexual exploitation, trafficking or modern slavery.

With support from specialists across education, health, social care, police and the voluntary sector, it will help equip professionals involved in the protection of young people to identify those most at risk from dangers in their communities and online.

Every council in England will be able to apply for bespoke support from the scheme to tackle specific threats in their area, bringing social workers, police forces, schools, health services and charities together to improve how they respond to cases of exploitation, and learn from what works.

The National Crime Agency found that in 2017 that 35 per cent of police forces reported evidence of child sexual exploitation in relation to so-called ‘county lines’ activity – a practice used by criminals of using children and young people to traffic drugs from one region to another, often in rural areas.

Hinds said: “Being safe at school and having a stable home life is the best form of protection for the children as they grow up – but we know that those who are the most vulnerable, are the most at risk of exploitation of those who want to take advantage of them.

“We are all united in cracking down on those who try to lead vulnerable young people down a dangerous path, and the threats they face are multiple and complex. We must make sure that we work together and this new approach to better support teachers, police and health professionals will improve the expertise and guidance available to all those who care for and educate young people.”

The announcement follows the announcement of the Department for Education’s ‘Strengthening Families, Protecting Children’ programme, backed by £84 million to implement three landmark projects that strengthen and support families in up to 20 new eligible council areas.