Child Criminal Exploitation Thematic Analysis

The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel (the Panel) published its review into child criminal exploitation (CCE), "It Was Hard to Escape", in March 2020. This initially considered 46 cases seen by the Panel between July 2018 and March 2019, focusing in detail on what happened to 21 young people in 17 geographical locations. The response to the report has been positive, with feedback that safeguarding partners are using it to benchmark their practice and ongoing work by government to respond to the national recommendations.

However, the Panel continues to see cases involving criminal exploitation, gang involvement and serious violence - approximately 115 cases between April 2019 and May 2021. The Panel wants to commission a desk-based review of these cases to explore whether "It Was Hard to Escape" findings and conclusions continue to apply and whether additional findings/ conclusions can be identified.

This analysis aims to:

1. Add to what we know about extra familial harm to support improvement in practice to safeguard these young people.
2. To continue to inform national partners about what is happening on the ground and support the ongoing dialogue with government on "It Was Hard to Escape's" recommendations.

This competition was conducted via the Education and Children's Social Care (ECSC) DPS.