The Police Service of Northern Ireland today marked CE Awareness Day by reaffirming its commitment to protecting children from exploitation — and announcing an expanded focus to address Child Criminal Exploitation alongside Child Sexual Exploitation.
Child exploitation remains a significant safeguarding concern across Northern Ireland. Since the devolved National Referral Mechanism decision making pilot in Northern Ireland commenced at the start of January 2026, there have been 13 children referred to the panel. Some refer to exploitation outside of the UK, where the child has been trafficked into Northern Ireland. Three of these case involved exploitation in Northern Ireland, two CCE and one CSE.
There are also 42 children in Northern Ireland currently sitting on the Child Sexual Exploitation framework. From 1st April 2025 to 2nd March 2026 there have been 54 Child Sexual Exploitation investigations resulting in five charges so far for offences including; abduction of child in care, sexual activity with child under 13, possession of indecent images of child.
While Child Sexual Exploitation continues to be a policing priority, PSNI is increasingly seeing vulnerable young people targeted for criminal exploitation — including coercion into drug supply, and other organised crime activity.
This form of abuse often involves grooming, intimidation, and debt bondage, leaving children feeling trapped and fearful.
Detective Chief Inspector Claire Gilbert said:
“Child exploitation is child abuse — whether it is sexual, criminal, online or organised.
“We are seeing vulnerable young people deliberately targeted, groomed and manipulated by those who seek to profit from harm. That is unacceptable.
“While Child Sexual Exploitation remains a core priority for us, we are clear that exploitation does not sit in silos. Criminal networks are adapting their methods, and so are we.
“Our expanded focus on Child Criminal Exploitation ensures that we identify children at risk earlier, disrupt those responsible more effectively, and work with partners to safeguard victims rather than criminalise them.
“Exploitation thrives in silence. We are asking parents, carers and communities to recognise the signs and come forward. Protecting children is a shared responsibility — and it is one we take extremely seriously.”
No single sign confirms exploitation, but warning indicators may include:
• Unexplained money, clothes, phones or gifts
• New older friends or relationships
• Going missing or staying out overnight
• Increased secrecy
• Sudden behaviour changes
• Decline in school attendance or performance
• Signs of physical injury
• Carrying multiple phones
• Anxiety, fearfulness or withdrawal
The PSNI have introduced a number of measures to strengthen their response in partnership to CCE.
DCI Gilbert adds:
“Alongside the Department of Justice and other key partners, we are laser focused in tackling CCE, an issue that requires a whole system approach. 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.
“We have formally adopted the cross-departmental definition of Child Criminal Exploitation and are embedding it operationally across the Service. This includes:
Development of enhanced data recording mechanisms to better identify and track cases and map potential exploitation networks;
Amendments to prosecutorial documentation to clearly highlight exploitation factors and National Referral Mechanism considerations;
Introduction of bespoke person flags to improve identification of children at risk;
Accountability for the issue and reporting to the Northern Ireland Policing Board on our performance and progress in this area;
Working with the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland and academic partners including Queen's University Belfast to develop improved screening tools and analytical approaches.
“Training and awareness are also being strengthened. An organisation-wide eLearning package is under development, and CCE is being incorporated into foundation training, investigative development programmes and specialist child abuse training. Multi-agency simulated learning exercises are being updated to ensure frontline officers and partners can better recognise and respond to indicators of exploitation.”
PSNI encourages parents, carers, teachers and community members to be alert to the signs of exploitation and to report concerns.
Concerns can be reported via:
• 101 (non-emergency)
• 999 (emergency)
• Crimestoppers anonymously
• Information and advice available at: https://www.psni.police.uk/safety-and-support/keeping-safe/child-exploitation
Protecting children remains a core priority for PSNI, and partnership working across communities continues to be critical in tackling exploitation in all its forms.