“I don’t want to go down that road”: The harms inflicted on criminally exploited children
In March 2024 we released the Jay Review on children affected by criminal exploitation. This follow‑up research looks at the harms these children face and offers recommendations to help keep them safe.
In this report, we have analysed serious safeguarding incident data from our services tackling the criminal exploitation of children over a four-year period.
By highlighting the harms caused by exploitation we seek to shine a light on the challenges faced by services and partnerships in protecting children.
We consider challenges faced at a local level, and consider what professionals can do across a range of sectors to safeguard children at risk of serious harm and ensure that no child is criminally exploited.
Action for Children analysed serious safeguarding incident data involving young people supported by the service between 2020-2024.
During this time, there were 179 reported serious incidents impacting 140 children and young people. The youngest child was just 12 years old.
Of the 179 serious incidents:
- 107 (60%) involved serious assaults on children.
- 59 (33%) involved a weapon including knives, baseball bats, acid, metal poles, and dog chains.
- 41 (23%) involved children causing harm to other children as a result of exploitation.
- 21 (12%) involved children being trafficked across the UK.
During this period, 50 children were stabbed, with some suffering life changing injuries. Two were murdered.
Of the 140 young people:
- 96 (69%) were not in education, training, or employment.
- 80% of 16- and 17-year-olds were living in homeless or temporary accommodation.
- 83 (60%) were known to use illegal drugs.
- 82 (59%) were diagnosed or suspected to be neurodiverse.
A staggering 100% of the children and young people were known to police before they were referred to Action for Children, suggesting those at risk are likely to be identified by justice agencies before safeguarding.
Over 90% of children refused to provide information about their exploiters for fear of repercussions.
I couldn’t tell anyone what was happening, or I’d get locked up. The fear, the power, the money, getting caught, getting my family caught.
Young Person supported by Action for Children’s Criminal Exploitation Intervention Service.
Intended harms caused to children
Deliberate acts of violence and coercion by exploiters, or by children who themselves have been exploited.
Behaviours linked to exploitation
Behaviours that result in criminal consequences or threats to a child’s health and safety.
Vulnerability and unintended consequences
Consequences such as disrupted education, unsuitable accommodation, mental health issues, and family relationship breakdown.
Children who cause harm as a result of exploitation
Harms caused by children to others because of their exploitation.
The narrative around children who are exploited
Perception of exploitation from children and agencies and its impact.
Exploited children deserve to be kept safe
More investment in targeted exploitation prevention and support services.
Including specialist exploitation services and a statutory safeguarding response.
For exploitation to be recognised as a distinct form of child abuse.
With a practice framework for all agencies that responds to exploitation as a child protection issue.
A welfare-first approach in the management of offences committed by exploited children.
We need a system that can hold space for children as victims in conflict with the law, including a specialist response within local youth justice teams that addresses the needs and vulnerabilities of children exploited into illegal activity.
It's our responsibility to help young people find their feet. It’s hard, but it’s possible. I received that support and now I can give that back. There is a life away from exploitation and when you help young people see that it’s a beautiful thing.
Lived experienced practitioner, Action for Children
Thanks to the National Lottery players, Action for Children has received almost £5 million from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK.
This transformative grant that we'll receive across the next three years will allow us to open five new exploitation intervention services.
Alongside this, we'll be able to expand activity at three of our existing services in Edinburgh, Newcastle and Flintshire.
The funding comes from The UK Fund, one of The National Lottery Community Fund’s significant commitments as part of its 2023-2030 strategy, ‘It starts with community’, funding projects that help children and young people thrive - one of the funder’s four key missions.
