Exploitation

County lines and criminal exploitation

County Lines is where illegal drugs are transported from one area to another. This is often across police and local authority boundaries.

Gangs will often coerce children or vulnerable people (although not exclusively) to provide the transport. 

The 'County Line' is the mobile phone line used to take the drug orders. 

Child exploitation

Barnado’s supports children and young people at risk of child sexual exploitation. 

Grooming

Grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust, and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit, and abuse them.

Children and young people who are groomed can be sexually abused, exploited, or trafficked.

Anybody can be a groomer, no matter their age, gender or race.

Grooming can take place over a short or long period of time – from weeks to years. Groomers may also build a relationship with the young person's family or friends to make them seem trustworthy or authoritative.

Online safety

For more information, see our online safety page.

Internet Matters

Internet Matters supports parents to keep their children safe online They provide age-specific advice, videos and resources to help you understand the online world and take control. 

Resources are also provided for schools covering early years, primary and secondary, with support from the UKCIS framework. Packs to engage parents are also available. 

Thinkuknow

Thinkuknow is an education programme from the National Crime Agency’s CEOP Command. CEOP works to pursue and prosecute child sex offenders. 

MOSAC

MOSAC helps all non-abusing parents and carers whose children have been sexually abused.

Pace

Pace (Parents against child exploitation) supports parents and carers whose children are being exploited by offenders outside of the family.