This is the third in a series of three policy briefings by the Alliance for Youth Justice on critical issues faced by young people in contact with the criminal justice system transitioning to adulthood. This briefing explores the criminal justice response to victims of child criminal exploitation (CCE) as they transition to adulthood. It highlights how young adults remain at risk of exploitation but face a sharp drop in support, protection, and recognition as victims, and calls for a developmentally informed, safeguarding-led response that prevents the unjust criminalisation of exploited young adults. It draws from an evidence review; a consultation session bringing together professionals from the youth and adult criminal justice sector, voluntary and community sector, legal practitioners, and academia; and meetings and interviews with practitioners, subject matter experts and civil servants. Practitioners and professionals spoken to as part of this research are collectively referred to as experts throughout this briefing. ‘CCE’ is used even where the victim has turned 18 and is now a young adult. In this report, ‘child’ refers to those aged under 18, ‘young adult’ refers to those aged 18 until at least 25, and ‘adolescent’ and ‘young people’ refer to those aged around 16 into the early 20s.

P.6 A statutory definition of child criminal exploitation (CCE) does not exist, however it is commonly understood to be a form of child abuse where a child is used, coerced, controlled, or manipulated into criminal activity. This may be through violence or intimidation, can be in exchange for something and for the financial gain of the perpetrator, and can occur online and through the use of technology. It is a form of child trafficking, which is the  recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a child for the purpose of exploitation. Statutory guidance acknowledges that a victim may have been criminally exploited even if the activity appears consensual, and that ‘vulnerable adults’ may be victims. CCE can take a range of forms and involve a range of activities but most commonly involves drug distribution and supply, including in the form referred to as ‘county lines’, where victims travel around the country to sell drugs. It can involve growing cannabis, transporting weapons, theft, shoplifting, burglary, fraud and street crime like begging and pickpocketing. Exploiters can range from friends and family, to local drug dealing groups, to serious organised crime groups. Grooming often begins with exploiters identifying a need, want or adversity in a child’s life, taking advantage of this to manipulate the child and make them feel valued, and then over time escalating the demands on the child to participate in criminal activity – including involving the child in the recruitment of other victims. Experiences of exploitation can include debt bondage, coercion, violence, threats, emotional and sexual abuse. Victims experience psychological stress and anxiety, are exposed to traumatic events, and can face intimidation and violence if they attempt to refuse involvement...

See also:
(2023) Young people in transition in the criminal justice system: evidence review.

(2021) Young women’s justice project briefing - Falling through the gaps: young women transitioning to the adult justice system