New national training programme tackles criminal exploitation

A new national training programme aimed at raising awareness of child criminal exploitation among frontline professionals has been developed in collaboration with the University of Suffolk, the NPCC-led National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC), child exploitation charity Ivison Trust and funded by the Home Office.

The ‘Lived Experience Training Programme’ is a direct response to critical gaps in training and understanding identified in recent reports which have highlighted the urgent need for more effective, trauma-informed and victim-focused responses to child criminal exploitation.

This initiative is dedicated to building a national network of trainers equipped to deliver free, accredited training on child criminal exploitation, with a focus on trauma-informed, family inclusive responses.

The programme offers scalable training that features recorded testimony from survivors and is delivered using a Train-the-Trainer model. This approach ensures that accredited, quality-assured training can reach professionals across sectors including policing, education, healthcare, and social care.

Dr Paul Andell, Associate Professor, Criminology, University of Suffolk said: “Practitioner feedback from participants suggests that using real voices and examples of those impacted by Child Criminal Exploitation and placing victimhood at the centre of the experience will help professionals develop a different focus and approach to their work which will ultimately improve the outcomes for victims.” 

The programme was officially launched at an event on Monday 21 June, which was attended by policy makers and experts in the field as well as survivors and their families who co-created the resource.

One parent who attended the launch event and has first-hand experience of criminal exploitation, said: “This training plays a vital role in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and the real struggles that families experience, fostering empathy and enabling informed support. My hope is to inspire a shift in how professionals engage with families, moving from a transactional approach to one rooted in collaboration and trust.”

The event also showcased the programme’s reach and impact to date and explored how organisations can implement the training in their own regions.

So far, 256 professionals have been trained through the programme, with a conservative estimation of an impressive reach of 7,680 professionals.

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with 100% of participants stating they would recommend the training. The programme has significantly strengthened multi-agency collaboration and communication, boosted safeguarding professionals’ confidence, and enabled earlier intervention through improved identification of risk and harm. These outcomes have contributed to a reduction in revictimization and enhanced engagement with young people.

Dan Mitchell, Head of NCLCC said: “This programme marks a significant step forward in our national policing response to County Lines and child criminal exploitation.

“It equips frontline professionals with the tools to spot the early signs of exploitation, intervene effectively and support victims in a way that is trauma-informed and rooted in lived experience.

“By embedding this training across sectors, we’re not only enhancing our ability to safeguard vulnerable individuals, but we’re also strengthening our collective efforts to disrupt criminal networks and bring County Lines offenders to justice.”

The training also comes ahead of the introduction of three significant new criminal offences – Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE), Cuckooing and Coerced Internal Concealment – which have been introduced in the Crime and Policing Bill. These offences, shaped in close collaboration with the NCLCC, aim to strengthen protections for vulnerable individuals and tackle exploitation head-on.

The programme forms a key part of NCLCC’s County Lines Policing Strategy 2024-27, which aims to prevent County Lines, protect children and vulnerable adults, prepare communities to mitigate harm and impact, and pursue offenders for offences including drug supply, modern slavery and weapons possession.

Dedicated County Lines teams from police forces across the country, funded via the national County Lines Programme, are working alongside Neighbourhood Policing Teams to deliver this strategy and reduce the devastating impact of County Lines on local communities. This work aligns with HM Government’s Safer Streets mission, particularly its goals to halve knife crime and prevent criminal gangs from exploiting children.