The public is being urged to surrender any so-called ‘zombie’ knives to designated police stations across Staffordshire as the government looks to launch its national amnesty compensation scheme next week. …
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Their services help to prevent child exploitation, raise awareness of exploitation amongst young people and provide training for professionals, parents and carers.
Catch22 complete screening, assessments and interventions with young people to help them recognise and reflect upon the causes, signs and symptoms of child exploitation (including sexual and criminal exploitation) so they can better identify if this is happening to them.
The Violence Reduction Alliance (VRA) supports Catch22 with their Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) Education and Support Service which includes a Navigator Programme, tailored one-to-one support to children and families and targeted delivery of an Evidence-Based Education Programme to those at risk of being exploited.
The Navigator Programme aims to identify and support children at the most ‘reachable moment’ following arrest on suspicion of a crime or as victim of a violent offence.
The Navigator programme has helped to identify a number of young people in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent who were either at risk or had been victim of exploitation and intervened to safely get them out of dangerous situations.
Catch22 offer tailored one-to-one support via two avenues.
Through direct one-to-one support, Catch22 help build awareness for children and families referred to Catch22 around issues related to CCE and promote positive diversion using a solution focused approach.
Alternatively, Catch22 upskill another professional, who the child has an existing and meaningful relationship with, to enable them to incorporate CCE work into their own support package.
The Evidence-Based Education Programme is delivered in schools or professional settings through targeted group work, training sessions or assemblies to build awareness around vulnerabilities, grooming methods, and signs and indicators of exploitation and county lines.
County Lines is a form of criminal exploitation where urban gangs persuade, coerce or force children, young people and vulnerable adults to store drugs and money and/or transport then to suburban areas, market torn and coastal towns (Home Office, 2018).
Organised criminal groups (OCGs) use phone lines to move and supply drugs, they exploit vulnerable people, including children and those with mental health or addiction issues, by recruiting them to distribute their drugs.
County Lines can happen in any part of the UK and is a form of child abuse. Other forms of criminal exploitation include child sexual exploitation, trafficking, gang and knife crime. Find out about work the VRA is supporting to help prevent and reduce child exploitation here.
Phrases that young people may use to refer to county lines include:
These all refer to going out of town to deliver drugs, money or other illegal packages such as, weapons.
If you are worried about a child and wish to make a referral, please visit the below safeguarding website relevant to your local authority:
If you believe somebody is in immediate danger always dial 999.
Alternatively, if you wish to give information anonymously visit the CrimeStoppers website below.
The word ‘gang’ can have different meanings depending on what context it is used. In the Government’s paper ‘Safeguarding for children and young people who may be affected by gang activity’ they distinguish between peer groups, street gangs and organised crime groups (OCGs).
Organised crime groups groom children, young people and vulnerable adults by building a relationship, trust and an emotional connection with them. Once they have built this relationship with them they will manipulate, exploit and abuse them.
Anybody can be a groomer. It doesn’t matter what age, gender, or race they are. Grooming can happen over a short or long period of time and can either be online or in person. Groomers may even build a relationship with family members to make them seem trustworthy or authoritative.
Groomers can form different types of relationships with a vulnerable person. This could be:
Whether online or in person, groomers often use tactics such as:
If you are worried about yourself a friend, being pressured into carrying an illegal package or are in a situation that you feel uncomfortable, you can get advice from independent agencies. When you contact them you do not have to give your personal details or information.
Staffordshire Youth Offending Prevention Service
If you believe you, or somebody else, is in immediate danger always dial 999.
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