Videos
Working with Local Stakeholders to Prevent and Tackle Child Sexual Exploitation
An estimated 1 in 20 children in the UK have been sexually abused. In this video, Barnardos break down safeguarding systems to highlight the complexities of exploitation and how systems can seem overwhelming for young people. Building upon this, they address the importance of working together to meet children’s needs and improve services.
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Identifying and Disrupting County Lines to Prevent Child Exploitation
Figures from the National Crime Agency reveal that there are over 2,000 county lines across the UK. Detective Superintendent Andy O’Connor is the County Lines Lead for Merseyside Police discusses the importance of partnership working with partners and the public to break the cycle of recruitment into county lines and gang crime.
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The Latest Trends in Gang Culture and the Rise in Knives, Exploitation and Violence
In the year ending March 2022, there were 45,000 offences involving a knife or sharp instrument in England and Wales. In this video, the Director of the National Centre for Gang Research discusses the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the behaviour of young people and the gaps in support which leave them vulnerable to exploitation.
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Preventing Child Exploitation Through Multi-Agency Working
There were 10,140 instances of Child Exploitation recorded as a factor at the end of a children’s social care assessment. Suzanne Taylor, Assistant Director of Impact, Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation at Barnardo’s discusses the links between Child Sexual Exploitation and Child Criminal Exploitation, highlighting the importance of multi-agency working to combat these harms.
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Engaging with Young People and Supporting them to Exit Gangs
According to an investigation conducted by the Children’s Commissioner, 27,000 children in the UK at risk of gang exploitation and have not been identified by formal services. Francis Osei-Appiah, Founder and CEO of Reform Restore Respect shares some of the indicators of criminal exploitation and how services need to create a more joined up approach to help youth exit gangs.
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Training Front-Line Staff to Improve Understanding of Child Criminal Exploitation
Almost 10,000 children were arrested for drug or weapon offences between 2019 and 2020, 15% of these children were first-time offenders aged 10-14. In this video, Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council and Derbyshire police share how they have equipped staff to work in partnership between services, safeguarding children and preventing child criminal exploitation in a local and regional capacity.
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Developing an Integrated Team Response to Prevent Child Criminal Exploitation
4,000 teenagers are being exploited criminally in London alone. In this video, Curtis Ashton, Acting Director at Young Islington shares how understanding the pyramid of gang crime involvement aids the development of a multi-agency approach to prevent child criminal exploitation.
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Understanding New Methods of Child Criminal Exploitation
There were 12,720 children identified by social services as being at risk of child criminal exploitation by gangs between March 2021-2022. In this video, Abbee McLatchie, Director of Youth Work at the National Youth Agency discusses some of the challenges young people face which make them vulnerable to criminal exploitation and how services can better engage with them to provide support.
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Protecting Girls and Young Women from Criminal Exploitation and Violence
It is often thought that only boys are criminally exploited but research by The Children’s Commissioner reveals that girls account for 34% of children aged under 17 involved in gangs in England. In this video Sherry Peck, Chief Executive of Safer London addresses the less well-known role of girls in criminal networks and discusses contextual safeguarding approaches to improve support programmes focused on rehabilitating females affected by violence and exploitation.
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Preventing Child Exploitation: Identifying Vulnerable Young People and Intervening Early
Over 12,500 children in England were identified as being at risk of criminal exploitation in March 2020-21. Alex Bridge, Service Manager at Southend Borough Council, shares how the ‘See the Signs’ campaign has raised local community awareness of child exploitation to improve early intervention responses from councils and protect at risk individuals.
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Missing the Point: Reducing the Risk of Children in Care going Missing
Children in care are more likely to be reported missing than other children. This leaves them vulnerable to criminal and sexual exploitation. This article explores what the National Youth Advocacy Service is doing to ensure looked after children don't go missing.
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Tackling Gangs, Violence and Weapon Crime: Discussion with Becky Fedia and Geoff Thompson
Becky Fédia, National Programme Manager, Disrupting Exploitation Programme at The Children’s Society and Geoff Thompson MBE, Founder and Chair of Youth Charter take audience questions.
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