The aim of the current study was: To understand the young people’s experiences of, and attitudes towards criminal exploitation in the context of Northern Ireland The objectives of this element of the study included: • To recruit between 40 and 60 young people aged between 16 and 18 living in communities characterised by the PSNI as having elevated rates of paramilitarism and organised crime

• To facilitate a minimum of six in-depth focus groups that would explore young people’s understandings of the concept of child criminal exploitation; perceptions around exposure to child criminal exploitation in the NI context; and beliefs about what could reasonably be done to prevent the exposure and harm associated with child criminal exploitation.

• To identify where and how the harm occurs

• To explore the relationship between victims and perpetrators

• To identify the factors that facilitate harm and impede safety