An update from Suzette Jones, development officer for the Clewer Initiative:
Advent, a time of hope. Thank you so much and to the many people who work tirelessly to raise awareness, support & care for victims of Modern Slavery, trafficking and exploitation. It continuously gives us hope in our work too.
Christmas, a time for children. Dreadful statistics estimates over 27,000 children and young people in the UK are exploited through County Lines is truly chilling!
County Lines is a term used by the Police to describe the process of urban gangs exploiting children and young people using them to run drugs across the country. The ‘typical victim’ of county lines is a boy aged 14-18 from an urban area however victims of both genders and as young as 10 have been found in this form of exploitation. Poverty is the main risk factor, as the young people may see county lines as an opportunity to earn money, believing they can stay in control of the situation of which they cannot. These children have been exploited and need to be recognised as victims. Additionally, many more children and young people are captured into the different forms of slavery here in the UK.
Please download the poster which you can print, and exhibit or pass on to family, friends, anyone who would be interested in spotting the signs and reporting their concerns.
Do look out in our Newsletter, www.theclewerinitiative.org for talks & courses we will be offering in the New Year on County Lines.