Child Criminal Exploitation

Overview

How are the Council and Partners working with families to support children and young people at risk, or involved with Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)?

Birmingham City Council is undertaking a Scrutiny Inquiry to understand how the Council and Partners are working together to reduce the risks of Criminal Exploitation for young people.  They are particularly interested to find out how these organisations are working with families. The questions in this survey are designed to understand the experience from the perspective of families.  

What is a Scrutiny Inquiry?

A Scrutiny Inquiry is when Councillors come together to consider a topic in more detail and make recommendations.  These recommendations are designed to improve public services. 

Councillors in Birmingham’s Education, Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny Committee consider Child Criminal Exploitation a priority, and have decided to carry out an in-depth Inquiry.  It is important that this Inquiry hears information from different groups so it can make recommendations which will make a difference. 

What is Child Criminal Exploitation?

Child Criminal Exploitation (or CCE) takes a variety of forms but ultimately it is the grooming and exploitation of children into criminal activity   The West Midlands regional definition of exploitation, either criminal and/or sexual is:

‘An individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child, young person or adult and exploits them:

• through violence or the threat of violence, and/or

• for financial or other advantage of the perpetrator or facilitator and/or

• in exchange for something the victim needs or wants.

• The victim may have been exploited even if the activity appears consensual due to his /her specific situation.

Exploitation does not always involve physical contact. It can also occur through the use of technology, for example, as the result of a grooming process which takes place during conversations in chat rooms, or through the use of social media.

Why your views matter

Who should fill this survey in?

We want to hear from:

• Any parent, guardian or carer who has experienced Child Criminal Exploitation in their family
• Any parent, guardian or carer who is worried their child may be at risk of Child Criminal Exploitation

If you are an organisation who support children or families experiencing (or at risk of) Child Criminal Exploitation, we want to hear from you too. You can find out more information about how to do this on our website: Child Criminal Exploitation - call for evidence | Scrutiny Inquiries | Birmingham City Council

Worried about a child?

We know that talking about Child Criminal Exploitation may be distressing. 

If you have any concerns about the safety and/or welfare of a child or young person, you can find out more information on the Children's Advice and Support Service (CASS):

Tel: 0121 303 1888 (or outside of normal office hours, please call 0121 675 4806 for the Emergency Duty Team)

Email: CASS@birminghamchildrenstrust.co.uk