New unit to assist councils with vulnerable children and criminal gangs

A national response unit will be established to help local authorities support vulnerable children at risk of exploitation by criminal gangs, children and families minister Nadhim Zahawi has said.

The £2m facility will from next year offer bespoke support to councils to help stop child sexual exploitation, trafficking, modern slavery and attempts to coerce children into crimes like drug trafficking.

Figures from the National Crime Agency showed that last year 35% of police forces reported evidence of child sexual exploitation in relation to ‘county lines’ – where they are used to traffic drugs into rural areas.

Mr Zahawi said: “Exploitation of children in any form is an abhorrent crime and it is deeply saddening that vulnerable children and young people are prey to criminals.

“They are often at risk of multiple threats outside of their family lives, such as child sexual exploitation, gangs and county lines, and the new national unit will help local areas protect them from these threats and get the right support, so they have the chance to succeed in life.”

The unit will operate for three years and the Department for Education will award a contract to run it to provide advice to councils, an online forum for professionals, additional staff with experience in tackling exploitation and assessing an area’s needs, strengths and weaknesses.