The Community Safety Partnership met on Tuesday 26 March 2024 to discuss exploitation, including child exploitation and modern slavery, and the police's response to these issues. The meeting noted the ongoing work and strategies in place to combat these crimes and support victims.

Exploitation

The partnership received an update on the multifaceted issue of exploitation, which encompasses child sexual exploitation, County Lines, trafficking, extremism, and modern slavery. It was highlighted that children are statistically being identified more frequently in relation to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) due to increased opportunities for identification during case encounters. Training is being provided to staff, particularly within Adult Social Care, to improve the identification of potential cases. The importance of coordinating efforts on modern slavery with community groups and publicising awareness campaigns was stressed.

Concerns were raised about undocumented migrants who fear their status being revealed, leading to them being kept as modern slaves. For younger individuals, it was suggested that more work could be done with schools, and positive news stories shared to build trust in the police, councils, and the referral mechanism. Social workers are providing intensive support to young people at significant risk of exploitation, often working overtime to ensure maximum attention and resources are allocated. The use of social media to disseminate information on crime and CCTV to monitor young people's movements and potential risks was also discussed.

The meeting also addressed Cuckooing, a practice where vulnerable adults' homes are taken over for criminal purposes. Leaflets co-designed with the police are being distributed in high-reporting areas to raise awareness. Training for professionals on this issue was deemed useful. Discussions also touched upon the lettings process, with a suggestion for operative links with the police or the Antisocial Behaviour team before making offers to vulnerable residents, though limited placement options were noted. Victim Support can assist with vulnerable residents. The possibility of vulnerable adults being targeted due to hate, rather than solely their vulnerability or disability, was raised for further examination.

Work is being done to raise awareness of Prevent and far-right ideology through workshops, and training on incel culture and misogyny is being delivered in collaboration with the Violence Against Women team. A quarterly Community Tensions monitoring group and hate crime delivery groups provide platforms for partners to discuss concerns and for the council to showcase its activities. The Antisocial Behaviour team is considering hate in Cuckooing cases and the inclusion of the police in these discussions. Incorporating the victim's perspective and engaging with victims has been instrumental in shaping approaches and community communication.

Regarding hate crime in schools, close collaboration with schools and the Learning team is ongoing, with regular contact with all schools and Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs). Guidance from the Department for Education helps capture concerns regarding radicalisation early, and resources are available for professionals to signpost observations. Community members are supporting schools in fostering tolerance and acceptance. While no situations have escalated beyond control, continuous monitoring of safeguarding situations is crucial. Cameras are being installed on some bus stops, and teams are in place to address concerns regarding hate crime.

The meeting resolved to note the item on exploitation.

Police Response to Child Exploitation

This item was addressed concurrently with the discussion on exploitation, as child exploitation is a form of modern slavery. The meeting heard that when a young person is arrested, they are subject to safeguarding procedures, and their rights, including the possibility of a section 45 defence, are considered during interviews. It was noted that Haringey does not have specific areas where young people are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, with many referrals coming from social workers.

The police's approach to victims of exploitation involves victim engagement through multi-agency discussions, liaison with professional networks such as Children's Services, schools, and the Youth Justice Service, and referrals to partner agencies for support. PNC markers or the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) are used to identify and support potential victims of modern slavery. Evidence is secured and preserved through methods like the Early Evidence Kit (EEK) and seizure of clothing or mobile phones. In cases where a child is missing, liaison with the Missing Persons Unit occurs, and referrals to OP OROCHI are made if County Lines activity is suspected.

For offenders, police actions include briefing local officers, issuing Child Abduction Warning Notices (CAWNs), and using PNC markers to identify individuals. Arrests and prosecutions are pursued, alongside operations targeting County Lines activity. Criminal Behaviour Orders, Injunctions, and Slavery Trafficking Prevention and Risk Orders (STPO/SRO) are also utilised, along with Section 45 of the Modern Slavery Act.

The meeting resolved to note the item.

Dates of Future Meetings

The next meeting of the Community Safety Partnership will be held in June 2024.