Criminal exploitation of children ‘back to Victorian times’ after years of austerity, police chief says
The IndependentFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The level at which children are being exploited by criminals is “almost back to Victorian times” after years of austerity, a senior police officer has said. Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer, the national lead for modern slavery, said the use of children by “county lines” drug gangs was driving the abuse. “For these children, they are almost back to Victorian times and are being criminally exploited,” he told The Guardian. This gap of youth provision between the school and family is the void that the exploiters are filling.” His comments came after The Independent revealed that the Home Office was leaving modern slavery victims waiting for years for Home Office decisions on whether to give them support.
History of this topic
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