Under-reporting of exploitation leaving girls invisible to services, commission warns

It found that gang exploitation of girls and young women often “occurs simultaneously with other offences” which means “harms remain unacknowledged and unaddressed by professionals”.

In addition, most youth justice and gang prevention programmes are aimed at boys, leaving many girls “invisible to services and help”.

• Project helps Essex young people vulnerable to exploitation

• Working with girls in gangs, US

Health professionals also need to improve their identification of the risk of exploitation of girls. The report found that when young people in mental health crisis caused by trauma arrive at hospitals, staff are less likely to ask girls about challenges in their lives than boys who arrive having been stabbed.

Another factor in under-reporting of concerns is a “perception that girls are less likely to engage in violence”.

“Moreover, when they do get identified they can often be blamed for being exploited,” found the report from the Commission on Young Lives and Manchester Metropolitan University.

Adultification is another concern, particularly around professionals’ attitudes to black and minority ethnic girls. Too often they are “seen as more resilient and more able to cope with situations that should demand intervention”, said commission chair Anne Longfield.

• The invisibility of girls and young women affected by serious violence and exploitation needs to end

“The horrific consequences of gang violence on boys are played out regularly on our streets and in the news and are rightly a major cause of concern,” she said.

“But it is now clear that thousands of girls are also being harmed, sexually assaulted, raped or controlled in a way and on a scale that is not being recognised.

“Sadly, girls’ experiences are often hidden - out of sight and out of mind with most of the services and support to tackle serious violence, county lines and exploitation focusing on boys.”

The Commission on Young Lives and @mcys_mmu are today publishing a joint report on girls who are at risk of violence, exploitation, harm, and involvement with gangs.

Thousands of vulnerable girls are being left without help - a short thread ⬇️https://t.co/EhRderW1cm

— Commission on Young Lives (@coyl2022) July 19, 2023

Government is being called on to prioritise measures to tackle violence against girls at risk of gang exploitation, with support workers deployed to help young people in areas of high violence.

This is especially needed with rising incidences in many areas. For example, the charity Redthread is reporting that the number of girls and women referred to its services in London, Birmingham and Nottingham have almost doubled since the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Most of these girls are not ‘gang members’ themselves, but some are involved with or affected by gangs, and many are being exposed to environments where there are very high levels of control, sexual exploitation, and criminal activity,” states the report about Redthread’s support.

Another service cited in the report is Manchester based multi-agency Getting Out for Good project which offers mentoring and specialises in engaging with vulnerable girls “who often have a strong distrust of statutory services”.

The commission’s report states that this project “recognises the varied and different needs of girls and young women who are at risk of, or who are the victims of, violence, trauma, abuse, and harm”.

“Girls and young women told us that their mentoring relationships were the most helpful part of the project. It was universally described as meaningful, facilitating change and empowering,” adds the report.

“The programme had helped them to identify and work towards their future goals and aspiration, goals that were often bigger than they had been prior to their involvement. We need more of these projects, alongside long-term funding, across the country.”