St Giles - Gangs, County Lines and CCE: The Foundation Practitioners Need

This introductory session provides practitioners with a clear and accessible grounding in gangs, county lines and child criminal exploitation. It explores how exploitation develops, how young people are groomed, coerced and controlled, and why professional responses must move beyond stereotypes, simple risk indicators or assumptions about choice.

Drawing on St Giles’ frontline experience and lived experience practice, the session will help practitioners understand the realities behind the language, recognise early warning signs, and consider what effective safeguarding looks like when young people may not see themselves as victims.