London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 09, 2025

Criminals recruit vulnerable children outside homes and schools

Criminals recruit vulnerable children outside homes and schools

Criminals have been targeting children’s homes and schools for excluded pupils to recruit young people into a life of crime.

Metropolitan Police said they acknowledge the tactic which is often used by county lines gangs to prey upon some of London’s most vulnerable children.

Sexual exploitation and radicalisation are also key areas of concern, the force said.

Recruiters can loiter on street corners and approach children walking to and from class offering them a chance to “make some quick money”, a specialist said.

Others may be groomed over a period of months either in person or online.

DI Bediako Ahenkora, of the Met’s specialist crime unit, shed light on the matter in an exclusive interview with the Evening Standard.

The detective leads one of five investigation teams targetting serious organised crime, modern slavery and child exploitation.

“Those who want to exploit children look for those who are vulnerable,” he said.

“There are different ways of being recruited. It could be location based where they are approaching young people in the street.

“It’s not just care homes and schools but any places such as taxi ranks and fast food joints where they are known to congregate.”

Once enlisted some children go on to recruit their peers and expand the network, the detective explained.

He added: “Online is another means of recruitment through social media as a key avenue.”

As many as 4,000 teenagers are being criminally exploited in London alone and children as young as six forced to carry and sell drugs, according to the Children’s Society.

DI Ahenkora, who studied a Master’s in criminology at Cambridge University, told of the main socioeconomic factors which make young people vulnerable to exploitation.

This includes living in care, being excluded from school, poverty and deprivation, social isolation, behavioural difficulties, bullying and low school attainment.

Covid may have changed vulnerabilities for young people too,” he added.

“In terms of schooling, for some young people the gap in attainment has increased as a result of lockdown.

“So we are not just looking at the crime that is taking place but trying to understand all the factors that lead into that.

“The other thing to think about is how London is changing, how our communities are changing and being mindful of events that then effect the make up of a city.”

What is being done?


The Met works with universities, charities and local authorities to develop their understanding and divert children away from crime.

In some cases where criminals are recruiting in a particular area, social services may accompany children to and from school and officers patrol neighbourhoods as a deterrent.

Shop owners in target areas might also be advised on warning signs and how to support children at risk.

“It is about educating wider society about exploitation to ask questions and be curious,” DI Ahenkora added.

Education is a key preventative with many programmes running across the capital.

Second Wave Youth Arts in Deptford is one example focusing on how to stay safe online and combat online grooming.

Operation Anzen in Newham has been successful in diverting young people from exploitation, specifically in working with social services to run risk assessment and escort children.

In Lambeth and Southwark, Dwaynamics Boxing Club organise events for youths at risk which are designed to steer them away from gang culture, knife crime and gun violence.

Barriers can occur between children and police due to trust issues, fear of reprisals and trauma.

“This is why we have to work with the community and people can get the support they need,” the detective added.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
×