Event Summary

Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) cases are growing more complex, particularly through county lines exploitation.

The Crime and Policing Act 2026 introduces a standalone child criminal exploitation offence, alongside new offences targeting cuckooing and internal concealment. It places greater emphasis on recognising exploited children as victims and strengthens prosecution of perpetrators. The Government’s youth justice reforms shift the response towards earlier intervention, safeguarding, and a stronger child-centred approach.

Bringing together frontline practitioners across police, criminal justice, schools, children’s services, youth offending teams, health services, housing providers and voluntary organisations, Westminster Insight’s Tackling Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) Conference will cover information-sharing, safeguarding, investigations, and prosecutions under the new CCE offence.

We will explore how new CCE prevention orders will help safeguard young people and support police in disrupting networks and preventing repeat offences. Gain an update on the County Lines programme and the role of intelligence-led disruption.

As child criminal exploitation is a significant driver of youth offending, we will share practical guidance on how to spot the signs of exploitation, grooming and recruitment at the earliest opportunity, and put safeguards in place through a coordinated, multi-agency approach. We will explore the role of effective diversionary routes away from criminal activity.

With new technologies and changing models for grooming, practitioners must respond to evolving threats. Expert speakers will explore the role of the digital world and AI, emerging county lines trends, and how criminals target specific vulnerable groups.

Gain evidence-based insights on the intersecting issues of mental health, substance misuse, domestic abuse, knife crime, radicalisation, care experience, and county lines. Recent Catch22 data shows that more girls are being identified as victims of county lines exploitation. Find out how to safeguard vulnerable groups and combat the rising exploitation of girls.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from leading experts, policymakers, and frontline practitioners as we address the latest and emerging challenges and strategies in tackling CCE.

Key Points

  • The Crime and Policing Act 2026 and the new standalone child criminal exploitation offence
  • Joining up safeguarding and justice through the youth justice reforms
  • Recognising the indicators of criminal exploitation at an earlier stage
  • Treating exploited children as victims in need of safeguarding and providing trauma-informed care
  • Improving multi-agency information sharing and intervention
  • Disrupting exploiters through Child Criminal Exploitation Prevention Orders
  • New and emerging threats in county lines and exploitation
  • Online protection, including the under-16s social media ban and what it means for CCE
  • Intelligence-led approaches to disrupting criminal networks
  • Working to divert young people into alternative pathways and education
  • Safeguarding girls involved in county lines
  • Reducing the criminalisation of children in care and care leavers

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Group discounts

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