Preventing criminal exploitation: evidence summary
This paper is part of series of evidence reviews which aim to explore current understanding of prevention strategies and interventions in relation to human trafficking and exploitation in the UK. This paper focuses on the prevention of criminal exploitation of adults and children.
References
Action for Children (2024) Shattered lives, Stolen Futures: The Jay Review of Criminally Exploited Children. Shattered_Lives_Stolen_Futures_Exec_Summary.pdf (actionforchildren.org.uk)
Barlow, C., Kidd, A., Green, S. and Darby, B. (2022). "Circles of analysis: a systemic model of child criminal exploitation." Journal of Children's Services 17(3), pp. 158-174
Barnardo’s (2021) Exploited and Criminalised: What can the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill do to ensure that children who are criminally exploited receive the care and support they need? Exploited and Criminalised | Barnardo's (barnardos.org.uk)
Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) (2024) Criminal exploitation: Modern slavery by another name CSJ-JC_Criminal_exploitation.pdf (centreforsocialjustice.org.uk)
Cooper, C., Hesketh, O., Ellis, N., and Fair, N. (2017) A Typology of Modern Slavery Offences in the UK Research Report.
Dixon, N. (2023) Understanding Child Criminal Exploitation in Scotland: A Scoping Review. Understanding Child Criminal Exploitation in Scotland: A Scoping Review - Children and Young People's Centre for Justice (cycj.org.uk)
Holligan, C., McLean, R., & McHugh, R. (2020). Exploring County Lines: Criminal Drug Distribution Practices in Scotland. Youth Justice, 20(1-2), 50-63. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473225420902850
EPCAT (2021) Child trafficking in the UK 2021: a snapshot Child trafficking in the UK 2021: a snapshot | ECPAT UK
Hestia (2020) Underground Lives: Criminal Exploitation Of Adult Victims
Home Office (2021) Working with young people to prevent involvement in Serious and Organised Crime: a practitioner toolkit.
Home Office (2022) Serious youth violence: County lines drug dealing and the Government response. Commons Library. Parliament.uk
Home Office (2023) Criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults: county lines - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Home Office (2024) Modern Slavery: National Referral Mechanism and Duty to Notify statistics UK, end of year summary 2023. [Accessed 11/06/2024]
Langhoff, K., Lefevre, M. and Larkin, R. (2024) "Shipping containers and speed boats: exploring the contexts and relational spaces professionals navigate to safeguard young people from criminal exploitation." Journal of Children's Services, 19(1), pp. 74-87.
Marshall, H. (2023). "Victims first? Examining the place of 'child criminal exploitation' within 'child first' youth justice." Children & Society, 37(4), pp. 1156-1170.
Maxwell, N. (2023). "I'm Trying to Save My Family: Parent Experiences of Child Criminal Exploitation." Youth Justice, 23(2), pp. 243-258.
Maxwell, N., Wallace, C., Cummings, A., Bayfield, H. and Morgan, H. (2019) A systematic map and synthesis review of Child Criminal Exploitation.
Maxwell, N. Williams, A., Ablitt, J., Bezeczky, Z., Thompson, S. and Crowley, A. (2022) Serious Organised Crime: Early Intervention Service Interim Evaluation Report.
Maxwell, N. Williams, A., Ablitt, J., Bezeczky, Z., Thompson, S. and Crowley, A (2024) Serious Organised Crime: Early Intervention Service Evaluation: Executive Summary March 2024.
Neaverson, A. and A. Lake (2023). "Barriers experienced with multi-agency responses to county line gangs: a focus group study." Journal of Children's Services, 18(1), pp. 61-77.
Ofcom (2023) Protecting people from illegal harms online. Volume 2: The causes and impacts of online harm. OFCOM
Olver, K. and E. Cockbain (2021). "Professionals' Views on Responding to County Lines‐Related Criminal Exploitation in the West Midlands, UK." Child Abuse Review, 30(4), pp. 347-362.
Oswald, R., Walker, S., Soppitt, S. and Irving, A. (2024) Improving the Hope of Young People impacted by Serious Violence and Child Criminal Exploitation: Full Report.
Pearson, J., and J. Cavener (2024). "Professionals' understanding of the County Lines phenomenon: Insights from a study exploring the perceptions of young peoples' supported accommodation staff." Children & Youth Services Review, 156 (5).
Rigby, P., Malloch, M., Beetham, T. and Callaghan, J. (2020) Child Trafficking in Scotland, Scottish Government.
Robinson, G., McLean, R. and Densley, J. (2019). "Working County Lines: Child Criminal Exploitation and Illicit Drug Dealing in Glasgow and Merseyside." International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology, 63(5), pp. 694-711.
Scottish Government (2023a) National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 - updated 2023. Available from www.gov.scot.
Scottish Government (2023b) Practitioner Guidance on Criminal Exploitation. https://www.gov.scot/publications/practitioner-guidance-criminal-exploitation/
Sereni, A., and Baker, C. (2018) Before the Harm is Done Examining the UK’s response to the prevention of trafficking. The Anti-Trafficking Group.
Shaw, J., and Greenhow, S. (2020) ‘Children in Care: Exploitation, Offending and the Denial of Victimhood in a Prosecution-led Culture of Practice’, British Journal of Social Work, 50(5), pp. 1551–1569.
Such, E., Laurent, C. & Salway, S. (2017) Modern slavery and public health. Public Health England. Available from www.gov.uk.
The Children’s Society (2019) Counting lives: Responding to children who are criminally exploited. The Children’s Society.
UNICEF (2017), Victim not Criminal: Trafficked Children and the Non-punishment Principle in the UK. Unicef.
Wroe, L. (2019). Contextual Safeguarding and ‘County Lines’. University of Bedfordshire.
Contact
Email: justice_analysts@gov.scot