Cuckooing is a practice used by criminal gangs where they take over the home of a vulnerable person — often someone with a drug addiction, mental health problem, or learning disability — and use it as a base for drug supply. Children may be involved in cuckooing as runners or may themselves be the vulnerable person whose home is taken over.

How is CCE different from county lines?

County lines is a specific model of drug supply that uses children as runners. CCE is a broader category that encompasses county lines but also includes other forms of criminal exploitation such as fraud, theft, forced labour, and violence. A child can be a victim of CCE without being involved in county lines.

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Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)

Understanding child criminal exploitation beyond county lines — including cuckooing, fraud, and theft — and the safeguarding response.

Ages 11-13 Ages 14-16 Ages 17-plus

What is this?

Child criminal exploitation (CCE) occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate, or deceive a child into criminal activity. CCE is broader than county lines and includes a range of criminal activity such as cuckooing (using a vulnerable person's home for drug supply), fraud, theft, and violent crime. It is defined in statutory guidance and is recognised by the National Crime Agency as a serious and growing safeguarding concern.

How it works

As with all forms of exploitation, CCE exploits vulnerabilities and power imbalances. Children may not recognise themselves as victims, particularly if they are being offered friendship, status, or material rewards. Over time, they may be coerced into increasingly serious criminal activity. CCE overlaps significantly with county lines, CSE, and modern slavery and often involves multiple forms of exploitation occurring simultaneously.

Warning signs

In your child's behaviour

On their device

• Receiving instructions via encrypted messaging apps
• Evidence of large financial transactions or unexplained payments in messages
• References to criminal activity, gangs, or exploitation in communications

Prevention steps

Apply the CCE definition consistently

Ensure all staff understand the statutory definition of CCE and can apply it when assessing a young person's circumstances. CCE should be considered alongside other forms of exploitation in all safeguarding assessments.

Use contextual safeguarding approaches

CCE often occurs in community contexts outside the home. Contextual safeguarding frameworks allow professionals to assess and intervene in the environments — streets, parks, transport networks — where exploitation takes place.

Refer to specialist exploitation services

Many areas have specialist CCE teams or multi-agency exploitation panels. Ensure referrals are made to these services where CCE is suspected, in addition to standard children's social care processes.

What to do if it happens

1If you believe a young person is being criminally exploited, contact children's social care and the police. Do not place the young person in a position where they could be put at further risk by the disclosure.
2Complete an NRM referral if modern slavery indicators are present. CCE and modern slavery frequently overlap, and an NRM referral ensures the young person is considered for additional support and protections.
3Ensure the young person has access to an independent advocate or trusted adult throughout the process. CCE victims are frequently criminalised rather than safeguarded — professionals should actively counteract this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Resources

Safety Topic

County Lines

Audience

Guidance for Teachers

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Last reviewed: 2026-04-10

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