🚨 Protecting Our Young People: Child Exploitation and Drug Crime 🚨

🚨 Protecting Our Young People: Child Exploitation and Drug Crime 🚨

I wanted to provide you with an update regarding Drug dealing, which people around your area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the priority survey.

Child exploitation is a serious issue that can affect any family, in any community. Criminals often target vulnerable young people and manipulate them into becoming involved in drug dealing, criminal activity, or carrying weapons. Many children do not realise they are being exploited until they are already trapped in a dangerous situation.
⚠️ Signs a Young Person May Be Being Exploited
Parents, carers, teachers, and members of the public should be aware of warning signs, including:
✅ Unexplained money, new clothing, phones, or expensive items
✅ Going missing from home or school for periods of time
✅ Associating with older individuals or unfamiliar groups
✅ Sudden changes in behaviour, mood, or attendance at school
✅ Being secretive about their whereabouts or activities
✅ Carrying weapons or being found in possession of drugs
Criminals often use violence, intimidation, debt, and grooming tactics to control young people. What may appear to be a young person "choosing" to become involved is often exploitation by organised criminals.
🛑 If You Suspect Child Exploitation
If you are concerned that a child is being exploited, please report it. Your information could help safeguard a young person and prevent serious harm.
📞 Call 999 if a child is in immediate danger or a crime is in progress.
📞 Call 101 to report concerns that are not an emergency.
💻 Report information online through the Kent Police website.
🕵️ Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 if you wish to provide information without giving your details.
🤝 We All Have a Role to Play
Safeguarding children is everyone's responsibility. By recognising the signs and reporting concerns, you could help protect a young person from being drawn into criminal exploitation and help them access the support they need.
If something doesn't feel right, trust your instincts and report it. Your information could make all the difference.
#ProtectingOurChildren #ChildExploitation #Safeguarding #CountyLines #Medway #KentPolice #WorkingTogether #CommunitySafety #ReportIt #KeepOurChildrenSafe 🚔👮‍♂️

The illicit drugs market is big business, worth an estimated £9.4 billion a year and drug deaths have reached an all-time. Taking the health harms, costs of crime and wider impacts on society together, it is estimated the total costs of drugs to society are over £19 billion, which is more than twice the value of the market itself.

If you are adversely affected by antisocial behaviour in your community associated with drug use, The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 outlines the flexible tools and powers that the police, local authorities and other local agencies can use to respond quickly and effectively to antisocial behaviour.

If you ever experience this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.kent.police.uk, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101.

Alternatively, you can stay 100 per cent anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Get Involved

Please consider getting involved by registering for these messages, this will enable you to contribute to the local priority survey.  We may be unaware of issues that you would like us to focus on.  Take a few minutes to securely and privately register and have your say using the button below, this will mean we can focus on things that matter to you. 

Please click here to complete the survey