Over 12,500 children in England were identified as being at risk of criminal exploitation by gangs in March 2020-2021, according to social services.
To raise awareness of the signs of child criminal exploitation, Southend Borough Council launched a ‘See the Signs’ campaign. Aimed at parents, substance misusers and children, the campaign is designed to help the community recognise child exploitation in a variety of settings and ensure they know the appropriate referral path.
Alex Bridge, Service Manager at Southend Borough Council, shares details of the campaign and key lessons learnt. He discusses strategies to prevent child criminal exploitation and increase early interventions.
