- Unexplained money, gifts, clothes or travel.
- Episodes of going missing, travel to unfamiliar areas or contact with older individuals.
- Carrying weapons, drugs, or multiple (burner) phones.
- Visible injuries, exhaustion or changes in appearance.
- Behavioural shifts - victims may appear fearful, secretive, or aggressive and confident.
- It is important to recognise that the way in which criminal exploitation presents in children and adults can vary greatly from one individual to another. Some people may appear fearful, secretive or withdrawn; others can appear aggressive, confrontational and confident.
"Child criminal exploitation is one of the most insidious forms of modern slavery. Many children do not see themselves as victims and believe they have no choice. Our expert evidence helps ensure their exploitation is recognised and justice is served."
– Dr. Grace Robinson
What is Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) and Criminal Exploitation?
- Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) refers to situations where children are manipulated, coerced or forced into committing crimes for the benefit of others.
- It commonly involves County Lines drug trafficking or local drug supply, theft, fraud, serious violence and other forms of criminality.
- Criminal exploitation occurs when adults are manipulated, coerced, or forced into criminal activity, often due to vulnerabilities such as poverty, isolation, homelessness, learning disabilities or addiction.
- Both are forms of modern slavery, as individuals are controlled, threatened and exploited for criminal gain.
Who is Affected by Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) and Criminal Exploitation?
- Children of all backgrounds and ages can be affected, though those experiencing poverty, family instability, exclusion from school, and involvement with social care are at higher risk.
- The average age of a criminally exploited child is between 13–17, though children as young as seven have been groomed into criminal activity.
- Adults affected often have experiences of homelessness, mental ill health or drug dependency that increase vulnerability to coercion.
- In 2024, just under 6,000 children were referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) (the UK’s framework for identifying victims of modern slavery) as suspected victims of CCE, making it the most common form of modern slavery affecting UK children.
Signs of Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) or Criminal Exploitation
Characteristics of Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) & Criminal Exploitation
- Targeted recruitment: exploiters identify and groom those facing social, financial or emotional vulnerability.
- Grooming: Promise of belonging or rewards (e.g. gifts, money, protection or status) are used to secure compliance.
- Debt bondage: false debts are created or inflated to trap victims in ongoing exploitation.
- Control through fear and loyalty: victims experience a mix of intimidation and emotional manipulation.
- Blurring of victim-offender boundaries: victims may commit crimes under coercion, making identification complex.
- Rapid exploitation cycles: children are quickly moved between roles, locations and networks to avoid detection.
- Digital facilitation: contact, recruitment and instruction often occur via social media or messaging apps.
- Disengagement from professionals: school exclusion, missing episodes and hostility towards authorities often follow grooming.
Best Practices in Identifying and Acting for Victims
- Be empathetic and compassionate, building trust with victims and adopting a trauma-informed approach.
- Avoid criminalising victims and victim-blaming language - those coerced into crime should be recognised as victims, not offenders.
- Map and log concerns, noting changes in behaviour, locations and associates.
- Work collaboratively with police, social care, education, youth justice and voluntary organisations.
- Refer victims to the NRM to ensure identification, safeguarding, and support.
- Section 45 provides a statutory defence for victims of modern slavery who commit offences due to exploitation.
- Children do not need to prove they were compelled to commit an offence – only that they were exploited.
- Adults must show they were exploited and compelled.
- Our expert reports assess whether grooming, coercion, deception, or control were present, strengthening the legal defence for exploited individuals.
- We provide independent, evidence-based assessments of criminal exploitation indicators in legal cases.
- Our reports explain recruitment, control, and coercion methods used by exploiters.
- We assess vulnerabilities, the presence of coercion, and the wider context to help courts understand complex exploitation dynamics.
Step-by-Step Process and Requirements for Instructing an Expert Witness
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Contact us to discuss the specifics of the case.
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Agree on the scope of the report and deadlines.
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Provide relevant case files, including prosecution evidence, social care records, medical records and NRM documentation.
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We review materials, assess the individual if required, and provide a detailed expert report.
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We attend court hearings to present findings where necessary.
Tips on Instructing an Expert Witness for Court
- Provide clear instructions and all relevant evidence, including police reports, exhibits, and social care records.
- Always instruct a psychologist or psychiatrist to assess trauma and vulnerabilities, particularly in child cases.
- Allow sufficient time for detailed analysis and report preparation.
Founded by Dr Grace Robinson in 2019.
OUR PRIMARY AIM IS TO SUPPORT VICTIMS AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF MODERN SLAVERY.