The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has marked CE Awareness Day by announcing an expanded strategic focus designed to address Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) alongside Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE). The move reaffirms the Service's commitment to safeguarding children from all forms of organised abuse and trafficking.

Exploitation continues to be a major concern across Northern Ireland. Since the launch of a devolved National Referral Mechanism decision-making pilot in January 2026, 13 children have been referred to the panel. While some cases involve children trafficked into Northern Ireland from outside the UK, three specific cases involved exploitation within the region—two relating to CCE and one to CSE.

Currently, 42 children in Northern Ireland are on the Child Sexual Exploitation framework. Between 1 April 2025 and 2 March 2026, there were 54 CSE investigations, resulting in five charges for offences including the abduction of a child in care, sexual activity with a child under 13, and possession of indecent images.

While CSE remains a core priority, the PSNI is noting an increase in vulnerable young people being targeted for criminal exploitation, such as being coerced into drug supply or other organised crime. This abuse often involves grooming, debt bondage, and intimidation.

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." The PSNI highlighted several warning indicators that may suggest a child is being exploited, including:

• 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

To strengthen the response to CCE, the PSNI has established enhanced governance through a cross-departmental action plan and a CCE Delivery Group.

DCI Gilbert added: "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."

The public is encouraged to report concerns via 101, or 999 in an emergency. Anonymous reports can be made through Crimestoppers, and further advice is available on the PSNI website.