Child Criminal Exploitation
Criminal exploitation involves organised criminal gangs taking advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a young person into criminal activity
a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or
b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator and/or
c) through violence or the threat of violence.
Like other forms of abuse and exploitation, criminal exploitation can/may:
- Affect any young person under the age of 18 years
- Affect any vulnerable adult over the age of 18 years
- Still be exploitation, even if the activity appears to consensual
- Involve force, enticement or blackmail
- Be accompanied by threats of violence or actual violence
- Be perpetrated by individuals or groups, males or females, other children or adults
- Involve a power imbalance in favour of those perpetrating the exploitation.