We are pleased to welcome the government’s recent pledge to establish a clear, statutory definition of Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) in the forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill. This long-overdue commitment marks a significant step forward in how children affected by exploitation are responded to, ensuring interventions from professionals are rooted in safeguarding, not criminalisation.
A Shift Toward Protection, Not Punishment
The government has confirmed the following key measures in their pledge:
- The creation of a standalone offence that makes it illegal for adults to manipulate, coerce, deceive or control children into committing crimes, with penalties of up to 10 years in prison.
- The introduction of statutory guidance will provide clear definitions and practical frameworks for professionals in law enforcement, social care, and education.
- The creation of a criminal offence to tackle the practice of cuckooing, where criminals take over a local property, typically belonging to a vulnerable person, as a base for their activities.
- The creation of a criminal offence for coerced internal concealment making it illegal to deceive, coerce/and or intentionally cause an adult or child to internally conceal a particular item for the purpose of criminal activity.
These measures will help ensure that the exploitation of children is recognised and prosecuted, while children themselves are treated as victims, not offenders.
Ending the ‘Postcode Lottery’ of Responses
For too long, children exploited into criminal activities—particularly through county lines and other forms of organised crime—have faced inconsistent responses across the country. Some were safeguarded. Others were criminalised. The absence of a legal definition created confusion and allowed children’s futures to be determined by their place of residence, and those that responded to them, rather than the circumstances of their exploitation.
We hope the introduction of a legal definition will bring clarity and consistency to the responses to exploited children. It eliminates the grey area that has often left professionals debating how to respond to children who have clearly been coerced into offending.
Recognising Victims, Targeting Perpetrators
This pledge rightly positions children who are exploited as victims in need of protection, not punishment. By shifting the legal focus onto the adults who exploit them, the proposed measures will support courts and services to prosecute exploiters, not the children who have been coerced and manipulated.
We also welcome the introduction of CCE Prevention Orders, which will help to restrict exploiters’ access to children and reduce the risk of further harm. In addition, guidance for professionals will play a crucial role in supporting earlier identification and intervention, which is vital for preventing long-term harm.
Rebuilding Trust with Families
This announcement also has the potential to rebuild trust between families and statutory services. Many of the parents we work with are reluctant to engage with support due to fears that their child will be criminalised for actions that were a result of their exploitation. A statutory definition and a safeguarding-led response will provide reassurance and open the door to more meaningful, early partnership working between families and professionals.
Looking Ahead
This is a welcome and long-overdue commitment from the government. It offers a genuine opportunity to transform the system, putting the needs and rights of children at the heart of how we respond to exploitation. By legally recognising CCE and equipping professionals with the tools and clarity they need, we can ensure children are protected, not punished and that those who seek to harm them are held accountable.
The government needs to provide additional investment to support frontline services in training thereby equipping them with the necessary knowledge and confidence to respond to, and safeguard against child exploitation, and to have a clear understanding of the new definition and the use of prevention orders.
Lindsay Dalton, CEO