Drugs and alcohol

Westmorland and Furness Council are committed to keeping every child safe against child exploitation.

Any child can be a victim of child criminal exploitation, not just those who are known to social care or local authorities. But risk factors include:

• alcohol or drug problems
• being in care
• being excluded from mainstream education
• connections with people involved in gangs or crime
• disability
• mental health issues
• neglect or abuse
• not having a safe and stable home
• poverty
• social isolation or other social difficulties

Possible signs of exploitation

• abandoning their usual friends and social circle
• an extra mobile phone, which cannot be accounted for
• becoming more secretive or distant
• committing theft or shoplifting
• going missing from home or care
• frequent absences from school
• physical injuries
• receiving gifts from unknown sources
• relationships with older people
• self-harming
• signs they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs  
• signs of becoming more secretive, distant or a change in behaviour
• signs of sexual activity such as condoms, contraceptive pills or pregnancy tests
• unexplained gifts, particularly expensive ones 

If you are concerned or believe someone you know is being exploited, please report it, call 101 or 999 (in an emergency) and quote Operation MakeSafe.

To learn more, please check out these resources:

Child criminal exploitation - Police.uk
#LookCloser To Spot Exploitation - The Children's Society
Child exploitation disruption toolkit (accessible) - GOV.UK
Criminally exploited children: who are they and how to keep them safe - Action For Children