Speaking to young people

Practitioners must avoid any language that implies that young people are to blame.

When practitioners speak with young people and their parents, it is important to use strengths-based, inclusive language.

Child criminal exploitation occurs even when activity appears consensual, as exploiters will capitalise on young people’s vulnerabilities: poverty, lack of social capital, fear. But terms like ‘child criminal exploitation’, ‘county lines’ and ‘trafficked’ can be both confusing and alienating for young people and their parents. Young people may not realise, or not be ready to accept, that they are being exploited, and they may reject the notion of victimhood.

Instead, young people may see their own actions as entrepreneurial, or the result of having limited legitimate opportunities to earn money. They may also not realise that they are part of an organised crime group, especially if they are low down the hierarchy.

Terms associated with child criminal exploitation vary according to region. Many of these terms have made their way into slang, so not all young people using them will be being exploited.

Practitioners should always focus on language that young people feel comfortable using.

Avoid victim-blaming language

Even among other pracitioners, you must avoid ambiguous language.

Young people

• do not ‘become involved’ in crime: they have been groomed
• are not ‘recruited’: they are criminally exploited
• are not ‘putting themselves at risk’: they are being forced
• do not ‘go back to their exploiters’: they are being controlled
• do not ‘keep going missing’: they have been trafficked