Good afternoon,
I wanted to let you know about a new research report we have published about young people, gangs and going missing.
'Running the Risks: The links between gang-involvement and young people going missing' reveals how gangs are setting children up in flats for weeks at a time to sell drugs in provincial areas. It calls for gang involved young people who go missing from home or care to be treated as victims rather than criminals.
The children are left in unsafe environments and in some cases have their phones taken away from them so they are completely isolated and have no contact with friends, family or professionals who might help them. There is also evidence that some of the most vulnerable children in the country in children’s homes, pupil referral units and schools, who don’t have a criminal record, are being targeted by gangs to set up these so-called “county lines” as they are less likely to attract police attention.
Drawing on extensive research and in-depth interviews with young people and practitioners, the report finds that these young people who go missing are more vulnerable to gang involvement and sexual exploitation, for reasons including debt and involvement in ‘drugs lines’.
You can download the full report and a summary from www.missingpeople.org.uk/runningtherisks
I'd love to hear what you think about the research and future opportunities to learn more about this issue.
Best wishes,
Lucy
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