Children, violence and vulnerability 2025
REPORT 4
Exploitation and gangs
Exploitation puts thousands of teenage children at risk.
When we asked teenage children whether they had been in a ‘gang’, we defined a ‘gang’ as:
“A group of young people who think of themselves as a ‘gang’, probably with a name, who are involved in violence or other crime.”
We used the word ‘gang’ because it is one that many young people recognise and use themselves, more than phrases such as group-based criminality. But we also recognise its limitations: the term oversimplifies a complex issue and can reinforce harmful stereotypes. To reflect these sensitivities, we use inverted commas when referring to ‘gangs’.
One in eight teenagers (12%) said that in the past 12 months they’d been asked to either sell drugs, transport drugs, or store drugs, weapons or money. Around a quarter of those who were approached to do one of these things went through with it — the equivalent of 120,000 13–17-year-olds in England and Wales.
A quarter of children approached to sell or transport drugs, or hide drugs, weapons or money went through with it.
Going missing and exploitation are closely connected — missing periods can put children at greater risk of being targeted or coerced, and can also be a sign that exploitation is already taking place.
In the past year, 11% of teenage children reported staying overnight somewhere without permission. Most did so rarely, but 3.7% said they went missing once or twice a month, and 0.9% as often as once a week.
Another sign of exploitation can be involvement in ‘gangs’. In our survey, 2.4% of all 13–17-year-olds self-identified as having been in a ‘gang’ in the past 12 months – equivalent to around 90,000 13–17-year-olds across England and Wales.
Of those who said they were in a ‘gang’, 55% also transported or hid drugs, weapons or money when approached – around 1.3% of all 13-17-year-olds. Of those who said they were in a ‘gang’, 39% also said they’d been missing at least monthly in the past year.
There’s a significant overlap between the teenage children who experience exploitation, going missing from home and being in a ‘gang’.
Bribery is the main tactic used to exploit children into crime. Among those approached to sell or transport drugs or hide drugs, weapons or money, 42% were offered money or something else in return, and 27% were offered drugs. Threats of physical or sexual violence were also common – reported by 21%.
I remember being 13 years old, joining my high school and straight away the Year 11 and the sixth formers took a real liking to me. And I was loving that. I’ve got all these great peers, I’m becoming kind of cool. I’ve got people watching my back. Then they’re offering me drugs – cannabis. I’m starting to get into a routine of drinking on the weekends, taking drugs before school, after school. And I remember one day, particularly, they said to me, “You smoke all our weed, you drink our alcohol on the weekends, we let you hang around with us, but you’ve never paid for any of this stuff before.” And I remember my heart just dropping.
James’ story of exploitation
Being exploited, going missing and being in a ‘gang’ dramatically increase the risk of serious violence.
Teenage children who went missing monthly or more were around 18 times more likely to be victims of serious violence requiring medical treatment (28%) and 30 times more likely to have perpetrated it (25%), than those who never went missing (1.5% and 0.8%, respectively).
Those who were approached to sell or transport drugs, or to store weapons, drugs, or money — regardless of whether they went through with it — were also more likely to experience violence.
For those who said they’d been in a ‘gang’ in the past year, the risks were even higher. Although only 2.4% of teenage children said they’d been in a ‘gang’ in the past year, this small group accounted for more than a third (39%) of all those who committed serious violence resulting in their victims requiring medical treatment.
Risky behaviours can be a signal and symptom of exploitation.
Certain behaviours — such as carrying a weapon or using class A drugs — can be both a signal that a child is vulnerable and a symptom of existing exploitation or involvement in ‘gangs’. These behaviours often coincide with family instability, trauma, or social and educational disadvantage, highlighting teenagers facing multiple, overlapping risks
Teenage children who identified as being in a ‘gang’ or being exploited were 15 times more likely to have carried a weapon compared to all 13–17-year-olds (32% compared to 2.1%). Use of class A drugs was reported by 3.6% of all 13–17-year-olds in the past year, but the proportion was substantially higher among vulnerable groups: 29% of those regularly missing from home, 52% of those in ‘gangs’, and 50% of children who were criminally exploited.
I’d say age 14 was probably the first point in my life that I realised I did not have a choice. I was put into environments that I certainly was not comfortable with. I was in properties where I’m watching people taking drugs. And that’s when I started to realise, ‘OK, maybe this isn’t that normal’. I’m seeing my peers hanging around in parks or building dirt jumps to bike over. And that’s when I then started to say stuff like, ‘Do I really have to do that? Can someone else do it today?’ Or ‘I need to go and see my family tonight, I’ve got a family meal.’ And that’s when I very quickly realised that I did not have a choice in what’s going on or the decisions being made.
James’ story of exploitation
Teenage children who experience exploitation, go missing from home and are in a ‘gang’ share multiple overlapping vulnerabilities.
Finding a way out is possible.
Leaving a ‘gang’ is possible. More teens have left ‘gangs’ than are currently involved: 3.9% of 13–17-year-olds say they’re no longer in a ‘gang’ compared to 2.4% who say they’re currently in one.
Reasons for leaving include growing older (26%), avoiding trouble with the police (22%), and wanting to be a role model (18%). Support also matters: boys more often cited positive activities like sports or creative programmes, while girls more often credited teachers, mentors or social workers.
These findings highlight that, while the risks are severe, timely and coordinated support can help children break free from cycles of exploitation and ‘gang’ involvement – giving them a real chance to live a life free from violence.
I found Leaders Unlocked at the age of 16. They knew I had some sort of youth justice experience, but they didn’t know the extent of it. But they just made me feel like a human. And they exposed me to normal situations and helped me to understand that there are opportunities out there to be successful without going down certain paths.
James’ story of exploitation
Learn more about James’ full story in our report ‘Exploitation and gangs’.
What works to prevent violence and exploitation
These findings underline why effective, coordinated approaches are essential. One such approach is Focused Deterrence. This multi-agency strategy identifies people involved in serious violence and helps them stop offending and stay safe. Those taking part are often highly vulnerable, with their involvement frequently driven by exploitation, victimisation or self-protection.
The approach combines enforcement — swift and proportionate consequences for continued violence — with tailored support to address its root causes. Communities also play a vital role, reinforcing that violence is unacceptable and helping young people find positive alternatives.
International evidence shows Focused Deterrence can cut crime by around a third, with the strongest reductions seen in programmes tackling serious violence driven by conflict between groups.
To test how it works in England, the YEF and Home Office have invested £8 million to deliver and evaluate the approach in Leicester, Manchester, Nottingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton. Results will be published in 2028.
The YEF has also developed guidance to help police forces, Violence Reduction Units and local services implement Focused Deterrence approaches effectively and equitably.