Rise in child slavery victims attributed to county lines gangs
Neil Puffett
Friday, October 18, 2019
The number of children being identified as potential victims of modern slavery has increased by more than 800 per cent in the past five years, it has emerged, with the rise linked to the growing issue of so-called county lines gangs.
National Crime Agency statistics show the number of council referrals of suspected child victims of modern slavery in England to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) has risen from 127 in 2014 to 1,152 in 2018, an increase of 807 per cent. In the last year alone, there has been a 67 per cent increase on the 690 referrals in 2017.
The Local Government Association said the spiralling referral rates are being fuelled by an increased awareness of modern slavery and the growing issue of young people being exploited by county lines drugs gangs.
It is urging the government to use next year's Spending Review to ensure there is funding to help tackle modern slavery and support its victims, as councils currently receive no specific funding for this purpose.
Concern about the figures comes as police today announced a record number of arrests from a week-long push to tackle county lines gangs.
The operation, involving forces across England and Wales alongside the National Crime Agency, resulted in the "disruption" of 49 "deal lines", with a total of 743 people arrested.
A total of 292 children were engaged for safeguarding purposes, and there were 41 referrals made to the NRM.
Nikki Holland, county lines lead at the National Crime Agency, said: "Tackling the county lines networks exploiting young people and bringing potentially deadly drugs and violence to communities is a top law enforcement priority.
"Criminal networks rely on the flow of money to further their drug trafficking operations and conceal their assets. Over the last year of county lines intensifications we have seized more than a million pounds - hitting them where it hurts so they don't benefit from their crimes.
"We also know that criminal networks use high levels of violence, exploitation and abuse and we're seeing young and vulnerable people being identified as victims of modern slavery, as the criminals exploit and coerce them into doing the day-to-day drug supply activity.
"The only way we can effectively tackle this national problem is by adopting a whole-system approach, with partners in public health, Department for Education, social care and the charity sector working to prevent that exploitation happening in the first place."
Simon Blackburn, chair of the LGA's safer and stronger communities board, said: "Councils are committed to tackling the despicable crime of modern slavery, which is a rising threat to our communities. It can destroy the lives of vulnerable people working in fear of physical violence from ruthless gangmasters for little or no pay.
"The spiralling rate of council referrals, especially relating to children who face specific risks through county lines drug trafficking or child sexual exploitation, is having a huge impact on overstretched council services, particularly children's services.
"Extra funding next year will help but government needs to ensure councils have adequate long-term resources to tackle this abuse and support its victims, as well as creating a sustainable NRM system in the long term."
