Response to child exploitation in NI ‘inconsistent and sometimes inadequate’

There is an “inconsistent” and at times “inadequate” criminal justice system response to child criminal exploitation in Northern Ireland, a report has found.

Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland chief inspector Jacqui Durkin described child criminal exploitation (CCE) as an issue of “increasing concern”.

She said criminally exploited children can be targeted by paramilitaries and organised crime gangs, going missing from being in care, and urged that more is done to protect them, and to understand the scale of the exploitation.

Criminal Justice Inspection inspectors found that Northern Ireland’s criminal justice system faced significant challenges in recognising, assessing and responding to child criminal exploitation.

They acknowledged the difficult work undertaken on a daily basis by police officers to help children in complex and challenging circumstances, and concern was raised around their resourcing.

However inspectors found the PSNI did not have a clear model in place for tackling child criminal exploitation across the organisation, and that frontline officers and staff lacked awareness and training on child criminal exploitation.

Case file reviews carried out as part of inspection fieldwork found children were “often treated as suspects rather than victims and safeguarding referrals were not always made in a timely manner”.

Inspectors also found evidence of victim-blaming language in some records they examined during fieldwork, and a lack of specific markers on PSNI or Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland case record computer systems.

They made four recommendations.

These include the Department of Justice working in collaboration with criminal justice organisations to develop a strategic framework, and that the PSNI immediately develop an adequately resourced delivery model for the identification, response and disruption of child criminal exploitation across the organisation.

Ms Durkin said the report “makes for concerning reading”.

She said: “While pockets of good practice including the use of multi-agency support hubs and targeted interventions were identified, based on the evidence gathered and considered during this inspection, inspectors concluded outcomes for children who had experienced or were at risk of child criminal exploitation were not good.

“The challenge for the criminal justice system and others is to implement the two strategic and two operational recommendations for improvement included in this report.

“We need to see children as children, protect them from harm and vigorously pursue those who are exploiting them and robbing them of their childhood.

“This is not a drama storyline – this is the work of all of us and there is no time to waste.”

Justice Minister Naomi Long responded saying the report “provides important and timely insights into how the justice system can better recognise, prevent and respond”.

She added: “My department accepts the recommendations and is in the process of working with partner organisations to establish a child-centred child exploitation strategic framework for justice outcomes.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Zoe McKee said the PSNI acknowledges the findings and recommendations made by Criminal Justice Inspection.

She said: “Alongside the Department of Justice and other key partners, we are laser-focused in tackling child criminal exploitation, an issue that requires a whole system approach.

“Significant work to tackle CCE is already under way.

“We have established enhanced governance arrangements to drive delivery of shared objectives through a cross-departmental action plan, reporting through our established CCE Delivery Group led by senior leadership within Public Protection Branch.”

She added other work is under way, while training and awareness are also being strengthened, and an organisation-wide e-learning package is under development.

Ms McKee said: “I also acknowledge the report’s observations regarding resourcing.

“Despite ongoing financial and workforce constraints, our specialist officers and staff in Public Protection Branch and across local policing continue to work hard to better protect some of the most vulnerable children in our society.”