Question
Pg 8 CC Accountability report, regarding the trialling of the new Child Criminal Exploitation tool, would many of the children at risk of child criminal exploitation not be different to those at risk of child sexual exploitation?
Answer
While there are distinctions between children at risk of Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) and those at risk of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE), PSNI recognises that there is often significant overlap between both cohorts. Many children vulnerable to one form of exploitation may also be vulnerable to, or experience, other forms of exploitation.
This is consistent with emerging research from Queen’s University Belfast, including work by Dr Colm Walsh, which highlights the interconnected nature of contextual harms, trauma, violence and criminal exploitation experienced by some children and young people in Northern Ireland. Research has indicated that children exposed to wider social and environmental harms may be at elevated risk of multiple forms of exploitation.
The Child Criminal Exploitation screening tool is therefore intended to complement, rather than duplicate, existing safeguarding processes relating to Child Sexual Exploitation. Its purpose is to improve the identification, assessment and safeguarding of children where criminal exploitation concerns are present, including cases where multiple forms of exploitation coexist.
The tool is currently being trialled by the Public Protection Branch Child Sexual Exploitation Team and Derry City & Strabane Neighbourhood Policing Team. In parallel, PSNI is rolling out Child Criminal Exploitation training and awareness materials to frontline officers to support earlier identification and intervention. The screening tool is also intended to be made available on frontline mobile devices in due course.
Linda Dillon MLA - Sinn Féin