Welcome to Day 4 of National Safeguarding Adults Week.  Today's theme is recognising exploitation.

Criminal exploitation is the deliberate abuse of power and control over another person. It is taking advantage of another person or situation for criminal purposes or personal gain. Criminal exploitation could also include other forms of harm and abuse such as modern slavery, sexual exploitation or cuckooing. 

On this day, we want to encourage people to think about how they would work together to recognise the signs of criminal exploitation and how to respond.  Specifically, we will be focusing on how practitioners can spot the signs and respond to people with learning disabilities who are subjected to criminal exploitation.  

CSAB have published SARs Kate and recently Donna where there were concerns about exploitation of a young person vulnerable to forms of exploitation.  Following learning from the Kate SAR, CSAB, in collaboration with Cumbria Children's Safeguarding Partnership (CSCP) have developed a procedure to support practitioners, where there are concerns of exploitation during the time a young person is transitioning into adulthood. 

Practitioners are invited to attend a 'launch' of the new procedure which will outline the process for seeking support when working with young people at risk of exploitation.

The lunch & learn session will take place on Tuesday 3rd December 12pm- 1pm.  Book your place here.

"Tricky Friends" is a short animation which was developed by Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board.  Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Board obtained their permission to adapt this for use locally in Cumbria.  It is aimed at all individuals, groups and organisations who support people with learning disabilities and autism, to raise awareness of issues like exploitation, county lines and cuckooing.

The animation will help people to understand what good friendships are, when they might be harmful, and what they can do.  It is important that people with learning disabilities and autism, those who have cognitive difficulties, and also children and young adults, have positive opportunities to make and maintain friendships. We want to help them do this, to reduce the risk of harm and exploitation in groups who may be less able to recognise the intentions of others.  The animation is only 3 minutes long, and can be used with or by anyone - carers, family, organisations, individuals and groups.

Take a look at the video here from the National County Lines Coordination Centre, which outlines what county lines is, including the 6 key themes that underpin it:

• Exploitation
• Learning Difficulties
• Transportation
• Illicit Finance
• Violence and Drugs

The short video will improve understanding of how county lines work, the impact this can have on vulnerable adults and how to recognise and report any concerns.

CSAB have a range of Quick Guides to support frontline practitioners across a range of disciplines.  These include A Quick Guide to...County Lines

County lines drug dealing is an issue that agencies across the UK, including here in Cumbria, are continuously working on to protect communities.

The following fact file provides useful information on what county lines is and the signs to look out for.

What is county lines?

• County lines describes an organised crime group (OCG) which traffics drugs using dedicated mobile phone lines.
• Drug users ring a number to place orders - and local street dealers deliver.
• OCGs may exploit children and vulnerable adults, using them to move and store drugs and cash, traveling across areas.
• Our officers are catching and bringing before the courts those involved, with many offenders receiving long prison spells.

County lines – spot the signs on your street

• Lots of different and regular visitors to a house on your street.
• Increase in obvious drug-related activity.

County lines – spot the signs in vulnerable people

• Regular visitors to their home.
• New, unexplained visitors or support network.
• Becoming cut-off/estranged from family or existing friends or support network.
• New risk-taking behaviour.
• Substance abuse.

County lines - how to report information?

• If a crime is in progress, call 999.
• You can report information online at www.cumbria police/report-it
• You can speak to a police officer or PCSO operating in your community.
• You can call police on 101.
• If you wish to report information anonymously, you can contact Crimestoppers         on 0800 555 111.

County lines - what is cuckooing?

• ‘Cuckooing’ is a form of criminal exploitation and the term used when criminals use or take over a person's home for criminal purposes, usually as a site to supply, store or produce drugs from.
• OCGs may initially approach the vulnerable person offering free drugs or other things they may need; however, this may progress to threats of violence, and/or the victim being made to pay off drug debts through use of their home, and to assist in drug dealing.
• Victims may be forced to stay in their bedroom or are prevented from freely using rooms in their home such as their kitchen or living room. They are usually intimidated and left with little choice but to cooperate. Sexual assaults or other exploitation may also take place.

Modern slavery is a serious crime. Victims are:

• Exploited
• Controlled or held captive
• Threatened or punished to stop them       escaping or reporting the crime

Anyone can be a target for modern slavery. But some people can be at more risk because of money, social or health issues, or because of their age or immigration status.

Threats and punishments can often be violent, but not always. They can include threatening to tell the authorities about the victim's immigration status to get them deported from the country. How criminals exploit their victims;

Forced labour

Forced labour is when victims are threatened or physically forced into working in someone's home or business. Criminals might also trick their victims by promising real work in another place or country, then forcing them into slavery once they arrive.

Even if a victim seemingly agrees to the work, we can still prosecute if the work and conditions aren't acceptable. Nobody can agree to being exploited.

Victims can work very long hours for little or no pay. They are often kept and work in terrible conditions. But it is still modern slavery if the victim is kept in decent conditions, but is not free to leave or live their lives as they want. 

Victims can be forced to do any kind of commercial work. Common examples include:

On a fishing boat / In fields / As a builder / In a hotel / In a factory / As a cleaner in an office- or shop / In nail bars / In car washes / In the care sector.

But they can also be forced to work in people's homes, cooking and cleaning as domestic slaves.

Criminal exploitation

Criminal exploitation is when victims are made to commit crimes like:

Shoplifting; Pickpocketing; Stealing fuel from cars; Benefit fraud.

Drugs

Some victims in the drug trade are forced to work as cannabis growers. Others are used to distribute or sell drugs. 

Sexual exploitation

Victims are forced into sex work or to perform sexual acts against their wishes and without their consent. This includes escort work, pornography or making indecent images of children.

Most victims of sexual exploitation are women and children, but men can also be affected.

Spotting modern slavery

Modern slavery can happen anywhere in any situation. Each case is different and may not fit the stereotype of groups of people being forced to work in fields or on fishing boats.

The signs of forced labour, and criminal or sexual exploitation can be very different. Victims might look helpless and afraid, but they can also seem to accept their situation, be completely unaware of it, or even defend the people who are exploiting them.

If you think modern slavery is happening, tell someone as soon as you think it’s safe to. This could be about a victim, a suspect, or a particular business or place. You will always be taken seriously, and protection and support is available.

You can report modern slavery by reporting online to Cumbria Police. You can also call 101.  If you suspect someone is in immediate danger, call 999.

To report a suspicion or get advice you can contact the Modern Slavery Helpline confidentially on 08000 121 700.                                                                                    The Salvation Army provides specialist support for all adult survivors of modern slavery in England and Wales.

You can sign up here to CSAB newsletters and briefings direct to your inbox or follow us on X @cumbriasab. 

Visit our website to access a range of guidance and information in relation to safeguarding via the CSAB website.

If you have concerns about an adult in Allerdale, Carlisle or Copeland contact Cumberland Council on 0300 373 3732