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Written question asked by Baroness Brown of Silvertown (Labour) on Wednesday, 25 September 2019, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 30 September 2019. It was answered by Michael Ellis (Conservative) on Friday, 4 October 2019 on behalf of the Attorney General.

Exploitation: Children and Young People

Question

To ask the Attorney General, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Crown Prosecution Service's complaince with legislation and guidance relating to the avoidance of unnecessary prosecution of children and young people who have been groomed, exploited or trafficked as part of county lines criminal activity.

Answer

The exploitation, grooming, and trafficking of children and young people is abhorrent. The CPS takes great care to ensure the right people are prosecuted for the right offences in county lines cases, by training prosecutors to have an increased awareness of gang-associated exploitation and to scrutinise the evidence. This builds on clear CPS guidance which recognises the principle of non-prosecution of victims of trafficking or slavery.

Early identification by investigators is essential, in order to avoid the criminalisation of victims. On 1 October 2019, the Home Secretary announced a surge of activity to crack down on county lines drugs gangs. The package of measures, underpinned by £20 million of Home Office investment, will intensify law enforcement efforts to disrupt the county lines model, including the provision of specialist support to victims and families in order to help children and young people exit their involvement in county lines.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
290916
Session
2017-19
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Children Prosecutions Young people Exploitation
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk