Council Figures Show Growing Number of Children Identified as at Risk of Exploitation

Figures obtained from Westmorland and Furness Council have revealed a year on year increase in the number of Children identified as at risk of or victims of exploitation in the district.

In the year 2025/26 up-to the 6th of March 2026 132 Children had been identified as at risk of or victims of exploitation in Westmorland and Furness. Up from 126 the year prior and up from 114 in the first year of Westmorland and Furness as the local authority.

Criminal exploitation of children is when an individual or a group manipulates, deceives, coerces or controls someone under the age of 18 to take part in any activity which breaks the law.  All children are at risk of criminal exploitation.

Criminal exploitation can take many forms, from making children hold, hide or deliver drugs, money or weapons, to forcing children to steal, harm others or beg.

One form of criminal exploitation is when people involved in county lines criminal activity identify, target and befriend children, either online or offline, and manipulate them into dealing drugs or other activities across geographical areas.

Children can also be exploited in other ways, such as through sexual exploitation. Sometimes a child can be exploited criminally and sexually at the same time.

Local figures show children aged 13 to 17 make up the largest age group identified as at risk of or victims of exploitation in 2025/26 the age group 13-15 identified 56 children at risk of or victims of exploitation and 60 in the 16-17 age group, along with 16 children in the 10-12 age group also identified as at risk of or victims of exploitation.

From the last years figures 75 of the children identified as at risk of or victims of exploitation where female and 57 male.

A spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council speaking with Penrith.Town news said “A rise in the number of children identified as potentially at risk of exploitation since 2023 has been attributed to improved awareness and early‑identification efforts led by the local authority's Complex Safeguarding Team. Established to strengthen the response to concerns around child exploitation, the team has increased recognition of risk factors and ensured more children receive timely support.”

“The numbers quoted are 'episodes' rather than separate numbers of children.”

“According to Department for Education data, the proportion of children identified as at risk in the area remains in line with—or below—that of comparable local authorities.”

“A multi‑agency Child Exploitation Partnership Strategy is currently being refreshed to reflect recent progress and enhanced collaboration across services and is a partnership system with us working together with all agencies including Cumbria Police.”

“The council continues to invest in specialist intervention workers who provide direct support to affected children and families. In addition, a comprehensive training programme—delivered to both internal staff and partner organisations—aims to boost understanding of exploitation, including how to spot warning signs and where to seek help.”

The government has announced reforms to protect children from abuse will be significantly strengthened through the creation of a new Child Protection Authority, tasked with identifying emerging threats and driving accountability across the system.

Speaking on the announcement of the reforms Minister for Children and Families, Josh MacAlister MP said: 

“Every child deserves to grow up safe, and we owe it to victims and survivors to confront the problems that have allowed abuse and exploitation to go unchecked.” 

“The creation of a Child Protection Authority is a key part of our response to the massive failings which have been exposed by the grooming gangs scandal and by horrifying child protection cases like that of Sara Sharif.”

“The government is taking broad action to build a more expert, decisive and focused child protection system, and this consultation is vital as we step up protections for children, and we want to hear from practitioners, experts, families and survivors to make sure we get this right.”

The following are some of the signs and indicators of Criminal exploitation of a child from Children’s Chairty Barnardo’s .

Behavioural signs of criminal exploitation can include:

avoiding certain people, places or situations

sudden changes in behaviour, mood or appearance

reluctance to participate in activities they once enjoyed

emotional outbursts or extreme mood swings

fear of being alone with certain individuals

withdrawing from family and friends

Physical signs of criminal exploitation can include:

unexplained bruises, cuts, or injuries on the body

difficulty walking or sitting

torn, stained or bloody underwear

signs of restraint, such as rope burns or handcuff marks

drug or alcohol addiction

Online signs of criminal exploitation can include:

secretive or unusual computer or smartphone usage

receiving gifts or packages from unfamiliar people

sharing personal information with strangers online

being approached by strangers online or through social media platforms

If you suspect that a child is being exploited, it's important to take action right away. Speak with the child immediately and provide them with a safe and supportive environment where they can share their concerns. Additionally, you should report any suspicions of child exploitation to the local authorities or child protection agencies.

Concerns about a child's safety can be reported locally through the Multi‑Agency Children's Hub, ensuring a coordinated safeguarding response.  How to report aconcern | Westmorland and Furness Safeguarding Children Partnership

You can also call Childline on 0800 1111. Childline is private and confidential service where you can talk to specially trained counsellors about anything that is worrying you.

Where there are significant immediate concerns about the safety of a child, you should contact the police on 999.