Public urged to spot the crime signs

Young people are being urged to Spot the signs, Stop the crime as the second phase of child exploitation campaign launches – with a continued focus on educating young people on the indicators that someone they know may be being exploited.

In November, Wiltshire Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner ran a joint campaign targeting child criminal exploitation, known as CCE, in our communities – where adults or older children groom young people, providing them with cash and/or gifts and a sense of being part of a group.

The young person is then manipulated and pressured into doing things like stealing or carrying drugs or weapons in return.

Targeted messaging on TikTok and Snapchat, as well as a week of educational visits to schools, reached more than 100,000 young people and parents or guardians, providing them with advice and guidance on how to spot the signs that exploitation may be taking over a person’s life.

Starting today (17/02), the second phase of the campaign will run for two weeks, featuring further targeted messaging on social media platforms, alongside Spotify adverts, and billboards around Swindon.

The second iteration of this campaign has been funded by the Serious Violence Duty which brings together organisations such as Wiltshire Police, Swindon Borough Council, Probation Services, Wiltshire Council, NHS, Fire and the Youth Justice Service and shares a vision to reduce serious violence incidents and make Wiltshire and Swindon Safer. Police and Crime Commissioners are responsible for convening these partners and monitoring the exercise of these functions.

Could happen to any child

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said: “Many parents may think that their child is not at risk of criminal exploitation, but the data tells us that it can happen to any child, from any background and that children as young as 11 are being targeted.

“It’s so important that parents and carers know how to spot the signs of child criminal exploitation and do not shy away from having these conversations with their children.

“This phase of the campaign targets young people directly, through social channels we know they’re most likely to engage with in addition to billboards placed in high footfall areas in Swindon.

“Criminals preying on young children, taking advantage of their innocence for their own benefit whilst putting them in very dangerous situations is an abomination and it’s so important that we educate young people so they know what to look for and keep themselves and their friends safe.

“This type of crime has a devastating impact on the young people involved, their families and the wider community and what we then see is that trauma being carried forward and becoming a precursor to further offences in our communities.

“The police cannot tackle this issue alone, and my office will continue working with the police, partners and the right organisations including young people themselves to ensure this type of crime is being recognised, reported and that those directly affected are protected.”

Manipulated into committing crimes

Chief Superintendent Doug Downing, head of Local Policing, said: “This campaign is vital in reaching young people and educating them on the signs that a young person is being manipulated or coerced into committing crimes.

“We know that in child criminal exploitation, young people are groomed into carrying out illegal activity on behalf of criminals – such as selling and storing drugs, carrying weapons and/or committing burglary, robbery or theft.

“Those exploiting children might give the young person the impression that they really care about them, perhaps by buying them gifts, or giving them cash, promising a better life for them.

“The reality is that they are asking a child to do things they know are wrong, dangerous or uncomfortable for their own gain.

“This campaign is about raising awareness of those initial signs, recognising when someone you know is being groomed or exploited, and then reporting those signs to trusted adults.”

Key signs of potential exploitation to look out for:

- Unexplained money or gifts, such as new trainers, clothing or phones
- Significant decline in school attendance and/or performance
- Changes in mood and behaviour, such as becoming more surly, aggressive or angry
- Increasing amounts of time spent on social media, particularly talking to ‘friends’ they haven’t met or you don’t know
- Relationships with older people
- Possession of a second mobile phone from which they are receiving a high volume of calls or need to leave urgently after receiving a text/call

These indicators do not necessarily mean a child is being exploited – however they are possible warning signs which could indicate that a child is being used by criminal gangs for their own gain.

To get more information on child criminal exploitation, please visit the Check It Out web page which provides resources for different age groups as well as help and signposting, or alternatively visit Child criminal exploitation | Child abuse | Wiltshire Police.