Over 150 people attended our online exploitation conference
Wednesday, 22 September 2021
Over 150 people joined an online conference yesterday (21 September) to learn about the signs of different types of exploitation including cuckooing, child sexual exploitation (CSE) and forced labour.
Organised by our Safer Communities and Partnership Team, attendees heard more about different types of exploitation and how different agencies help safeguard vulnerable people.
Among the speakers were:
- the St. Giles Trust, speaking about its SOS+ initiative in schools, to help prevent young people getting involved in gangs, crime and serious youth violence
- the National Crime Agency, speaking about its role in partnership working to support partners to tackle cuckooing and exploitation
Our Adult Services team also attended and talked about how it works to safeguard some of the most vulnerable people in the community and prevent them from being exploited by criminals.
Sergeant James West, from Bedfordshire Police, spoke at the event to highlight drugs supply and cuckooing. Cuckooing is the term used to describe criminals, mainly drug dealers, taking advantage of a vulnerable person, using threats of violence to take over their home and using it as a base for criminal activity.
YouTurn Futures spoke about the service it runs in Central Bedfordshire, designed to support young people to move away from serious violence, knife crime, gangs, organised criminality and support those who are at risk of exploitation. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service gave attendees an overview of its Safe and Well visits, which help protect vulnerable people by offering advice about fire safety, health and wellbeing and crime prevention.
Councillor Ian Bond, our Deputy Executive Member for Community Services, said:
This was our second online exploitation conference this year, and the number of partner agencies who attended or gave presentations really shows the dedication to tackling these issues and safeguarding people in our communities. Continued learning about these topics is vital; by raising awareness of the signs of exploitation, we are ensuring people across the county can recognise them and approach the relevant support service if they are concerned about someone.
Sadly there are criminals who target vulnerable people and take advantage of them, but there is a lot of work going on by various organisations to tackle it – either using information and enforcement to disrupt it, or to help, support and safeguard vulnerable people.