What is Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)?
Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) occurs when young people are manipulated, coerced, or forced into committing crimes for the benefit of others. Many victims do not recognise that they are being exploited, as criminals use control tactics such as trust-building, deception, and intimidation.
How Young People Are Exploited
Young people may be groomed and exploited for:
- County Lines Drug Trafficking – Moving and selling drugs across different areas.
- Violence & Knife Crime – Being pressured to carry weapons or enforce violence.
- Cuckooing – Criminals taking over their home or a vulnerable adult’s home.
- Theft, Robbery & Fraud – Being forced to steal or commit financial crimes.
- Debt Bondage – A young person is tricked into believing they ‘owe’ criminals and must work it off through criminal acts.
Why Do Young People Get Caught Up in CCE?
Exploitation happens in all communities, and some of the key risk factors include:
Poverty & Social Inequality – Young people seeking financial independence or basic needs.
Lack of Positive Role Models – Filling the gap left by absent or inconsistent caregivers.
Exclusion from Education – Alternative provisions or being out of school increase vulnerability.
Unstable Home Life – Exposure to domestic violence, ACEs, or parental issues.
Fear & Threats – Criminals use blackmail, violence, and control to keep young people trapped.
Signs a Young Person May Be Exploited
- Unexplained gifts, money, or expensive items.
- Frequently missing from school or home
- Physical injuries, signs of violence, or being fearful
- Carrying a weapon, new phone numbers, or unknown contact
- Changes in behaviour, secrecy, or becoming withdrawn
How Wingman Mentors Supports Young People at Risk
1-2-1 Mentoring & Emotional Support – Providing trusted, consistent relationships.
CCE Awareness Sessions – Educating young people, parents, and professionals.
Safe Exit Strategies – Supporting young people to disengage safely from criminal networks.
School & Community Programmes – Working directly with schools, youth centres, and local services to tackle CCE.
Not My Child...
...But What if it is?
Exploitation is designed to stay hidden.
It doesn’t always look how you expect.
Sometimes it’s not gangs and weapons.
Sometimes it’s silence. A child getting quieter. A friend they won’t name. A phone they don’t want you to see.
That’s why awareness matters.
This isn’t about creating panic.
It’s about equipping parents and carers with knowledge—so that we’re not relying on assumptions, luck, or waiting until something’s clearly wrong.
What to notice early
Behavioural shifts
- Suddenly secretive or evasive
- Defensive when asked who they’re with
- Using language or slang that feels unfamiliar
Lifestyle changes
- New clothes, tech or money without a clear source
- Carrying multiple phones or a hidden second number
- Going missing for short bursts, or staying out late without explanation, unexplained travel tickets
Emotional cues
- Increased anxiety or hyper-vigilance
- Loyalty to someone they won’t speak about
- Changes in how they view home, school, or authority
It doesn’t start with crime. It starts with a need being met.
Exploitation often begins with someone offering:
- A sense of belonging
- Something to escape from home pressures
- Validation, money, protection, or status
What looks like a bad decision on the outside, often begins as survival on the inside.
What can you do?
You don’t need to fix everything.
You don’t need to wait until you’re certain.
You just need to notice, and be open.
Awareness gives you choices.
And choices give you the chance to redirect a path.