Escape line
Youth mentor Rhys says the children he works with ‘respect’ him because of his own experience
A man who was targeted by County Lines gangs at the age of eight was offered a football and money for his gas bill as an incentive.
Rhys suffered violence and danger for ten years before turning his life around at the age of 18 and having children of his own.
“My friends were in jail or dead and I knew I had to change things,” he said.
Rhys is now a youth mentor and is working with police on a new campaign to help parents spot the warning signs that their child is being exploited.
Wiltshire Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner
A police social media campaign will help parents and young people spot the signs of child exploitation
“At home my family were drug users and I was not watched and there were no boundaries,” says Rhys, 27, who lives in the west of England.
“I was standing on the street and was approached by gangs who asked me to keep things in my bag and answer the phone, and rewarded me with a football and money for our gas and electricity.”
During his teenage years he was chased with knives and threatened with a hammer on his hand.
Criminal exploitation of children involves criminals using children to commit crimes on their behalf in exchange for cash and gifts
Wiltshire Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner said their Spot the Signs project aims to highlight signs that could indicate a young person is being drawn into gang culture.
Awareness images and videos are being shared on social media and through visits to schools, the force said.
Rhys said the campaign would help spread the message.
“I had a family when I was 18, and my friends were in jail or dead, so I had to help myself,” he added.
He became a hairdresser and then joined the charity Escapeline as a youth mentor, working with children and teenagers at risk of exploitation.
Pippa McVeigh has shared some warning signs to look out for
Pippa McVeigh, from the neighborhood harm reduction unit, warned there are a number of signs young people should look out for. These include “unusual secrecy, especially around devices, mobile phones and social media accounts”.
The appearance of valuables, such as sneakers, phones or an e-scooter, can be another warning sign.
“Children who normally keep a pretty regular schedule of going out and coming home can suddenly be out much later and not say where they are or who they are with,” she said.
Supt Doug Downing is responsible for providing local policing across the province
Supt Doug Downing said exploitation can take many forms, with crimes committed by people under duress ranging from “drug trafficking through to high-end theft and violence”.
“Despite Wiltshire’s reputation as a safe county,” he urged people “not to rest on our laurels,” warning that children in Wiltshire are being exploited.
Anyone who suspects exploitation should contact the police.