Child exploitation
What is child criminal exploitation
Child criminal exploitation (CCE) is where an individual or a group takes advantage of an imbalance of power. This is to cause harm to a child or young person under the age of 18. They coerce, control, manipulate or deceive the child into criminal activity.
A child may have been criminally exploited, even if the activity appears to be consensual.
CCE can involve exposing children to and/or children being the victim of:
- Criminality
- Substance misuse
- Physical and emotional violence
- Neglect
- Going missing
- Sexual abuse
- Sexual grooming and exploitation
- Modern day slavery
- Human trafficking
- Domestic abuse
Technology
CCE does not always involve physical contact. It can also happen through use of technology. This could include:
- Making contact through social media
- Posting videos online (such as on YouTube) which glamorise gang violence, drug taking and knife crime. This can also include using and making music videos to make threats to other young people.
