Risk Factors associated with Child Criminal Exploitation

Identifying children who are victims of, or at risk of criminal exploitation remains a complex challenge for practitioners across sectors in Northern Ireland. A range of interrelated factors contribute to the difficulty in recognising and responding effectively to these situations. It is essential to shift the lens from viewing children and young people as perpetrators to recognising them as victims. Preventative and early intervention measures are critical to avoid or minimise the risk of future exploitation.

Risk factors are characteristics, circumstances, or conditions in a child or young person’s life that may increase their vulnerability to CCE. These factors often reflect broader systemic issues and past experiences of adversity or trauma, making a child or young person more likely to be targeted or drawn into criminal activities. While the presence of one or more risk factors does not mean a child or young person being exploited, it may indicate an increased susceptibility to being targeted or groomed by individuals or groups seeking to exploit them.

Understanding these risk factors is crucial for developing effective prevention and early intervention strategies. Comprehensive approaches should address multiple risk factors simultaneously while also promoting protective factors and building resilience in children and young people.

The following are key areas of vulnerability. The list here is not exhaustive.