Legal and Strategy Gaps Highlighted in Youth Safeguarding Against County Lines Exploitation

A ‘deep dive’ review of the multi-agency safeguarding responses to county lines exploitation and serious youth violence has highlighted the “vast and complex landscape” around safeguarding children and young people, with fragmented strategies, gaps in legislation, and a reluctance among young-in-service police officers to undertake foot patrols all contributing to an ongoing “perfect storm” of continued child exploitation, as Sarah Gibbons reports.

❝In the absence of this co-operation, the young person risks being viewed as an offender in their own right, one who is now making informed choices, rather than viewed as a victim or vulnerable child.❞ - Youth safeguarding review

❝Stakeholders agreed that there was a gap in understanding of the role that social media plays, and more work was needed to understand the use of social media in grooming and child exploitation.❞ - Youth safeguarding review

❝One participant with concerns around custody barriers, believed there was a ‘gulf’ between government information, changes to PACE, and operational guidance on the front line, which does ‘not meet at the top’.❞ - Youth safeguarding review

❝The shift within culture and practice to treat young people as victims first rather than offenders was ‘challenging and a source of contention’, with the safeguarding processes described by one stakeholder as becoming much more ‘mucky’.❞

❝It was repeatedly highlighted that there is a chronic lack of funding in order to effectively tackle county lines and child criminal exploitation. It was recognised that the agencies within the partnership are hugely underfunded and there was a need for further funding across all areas.❞ - Youth safeguarding review

❝The evidence also indicates that a legislative framework can significantly contribute to enabling the child being seen as a victim, actually being treated as a victim. Currently, professionals often felt like their hands were tied.❞ - Youth safeguarding review

❝Exploiters are making children and young people aware of the NRM and s.45 defence, therefore, some are now declaring s.45 on arrest, but refuse to disclose any information or intelligence or engage with any services.❞

❝Describing a ‘toxic mix of risk factors’ that may lead to further harm through drug use and further involvement in county lines exploitation and perpetration of other forms of criminal activity, the report called for a national children and young people’s drug response strategy.❞

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https://policinginsight.com/feature/deep-dive-highlights-legal-and-strategy-gaps-and-missed-police-patrol-opportunities-in-safeguarding-young-people/
Liverpool John Moores University The Manchester Metropolitan University

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