Criminal exploitation: practitioner guidance

5. What does Criminal Exploitation look like in practice?

26. There are many different crimes that involve criminal exploitation. The types of activity individuals may be exploited to participate in include, but are not limited to, trafficking, county lines, sexual exploitation, forced labour, cuckooing, moving and storing drugs, money and weapons. It can also include involvement in acquisitive crimes such as shoplifting and other types of theft, pickpocketing, fraud, working in cannabis farms, and using violence to threaten others. Certain types of activity may be greater indicators of exploitation however, any indicator or concern must be investigated to ensure appropriate disruption action is taken both by law enforcement regarding those behind the exploitation and by welfare agencies to reduce the opportunity for exploitation to occur. Coercion, intimidation, violence (including sexual violence) and weapons are commonplace alongside criminal exploitation. See appendix 2 at page 32 for a glossary of terms commonly used.

27. The term ‘on the cusp’ of involvement in serious organised crime is often used but is a complex term to define. Decisions need to be made on a case-by-case basis, based on the evidence available. Professionals need to be curious and open minded as to what is going on for an individual and why they may have engaged in the behaviour which has brought them to their attention. Regardless of whether an individual is harmed or causes harm, if they have been exploited to do so, then they may also be a victim and the Lord Advocate’s instructions for non-prosecution of victims of human trafficking may apply.

28. It is critical that professionals are aware of the indicators of criminal exploitation and take appropriate action to support safeguarding of children, young people and adults. The following examples illustrate the types of scenarios that could indicate an individual is being exploited:

• A 14-year-old has recently changed their peer group and now spends time with older peers in the community. They have become more secretive around family and attend school with a new mobile phone, trainers and a tracksuit saying they were presents from friends. Any time the mobile phone rings they become agitated and aggressive towards family members who might challenge them about the change in behaviour.
• A 17-year-old living in homeless accommodation has been caught in possession of class A drugs and large quantities of unexplained money.
• A 21-year-old with substance use issues has people to stay in their house and has claimed they are friends who give drugs in return for free accommodation.
• A 36-year-old who is recruited for their specialist skills in IT to defraud individuals by hacking bank accounts. They have a gambling addiction to pay for so feel they have no option.
• A 16-year-old who appears to be in a relationship with a man who is known in the area for drug dealing. The 16-year-old will sleep with other men to "help" the boyfriend to pay off his drug debt and has delivered packages of drugs to other areas in the city when he has asked them to.
• A 19-year-old has opened a bank account for a friend who needs to keep money aside. In return, they are given some cannabis for which they do not need to pay. They have been threatened not to tell anyone about the bank account and have heard what happens to "grasses".
• A 13-year-old has been found in a different city after being asked by a friend to get on a train to drop something off. They have done this before in the local neighbourhood but not further afield. They were told not to look in the bag, or to stop and speak to anyone on the way there. The individual did try to say no but were encouraged to do it as they had “done it before and were good at being discreet”. A mobile phone was provided so they could be contacted by the friend who would provide instructions on arrival.
• A 15-year-old is dealing drugs. They do not view themselves as exploited as they are choosing to do it. They have been told that if they do not continue to sell drugs for the dealer then their family will come to harm.
• A 37-year-old vulnerable adult is being persuaded to hold stolen goods in their accommodation, threatened with physical and sexual harm if they do not comply.
• A 13-year-old has been breaking into houses. Their uncle tells them the houses to break into and when. They break into the houses to steal car keys to assist with theft of high value cars.
• A 12-year-old is charged with wilful fire raising. They told a teacher they had been offered £20 by a local “crime lord”.
• A group of 14-year-olds are picked up individually for stealing high value perfume from a shop. Professionals have raised question as to whether they were coerced into stealing to order.
• A 16-year-old child from Vietnam with no family connections to the area, is found in an abandoned building (bando) watering cannabis plants. They have limited understanding of the location and those that had asked them to stay there.
• A 15-year-old who has been encouraged to sign up to Snapchat’s new Snap map feature, they are not aware this feature enables the “groomer” to monitor their movements in real time.

29. These examples illustrate some of the types of criminal exploitation that may exist. Where serious organised crime groups or organised networks are involved, they are constantly evolving and adapting in the pursuit of profit and power. This can be reflected in changes in how they target, coerce, force and manipulate as well as the type of criminal activity they seek to engage people in. Therefore, it is important that we keep pace with an ever-changing landscape.