Man Targeted by Gangs at Age Eight Now Mentors Youth

Rhys, a man who experienced targeting by county lines gangs from the age of eight, received incentives such as a football and funds for gas expenses. He endured decade of violence and danger before transforming his life at 18, after becoming a father. “My friends were either in prison or dead and I knew I had to change things,” Rhys stated. Currently, he serves as a youth mentor and is collaborating with law enforcement on a new initiative designed to assist parents in identifying indicators of child exploitation. Rhys, 27, residing in the West of England, recounted his early experiences: “At home my family were drug users and I wasn’t being watched or had any boundaries.” He further explained, “I was out on the streets 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 with money for our gas and electricity.” In his teenage years, he faced threats including being pursued with knives and having his hand struck with a hammer. Child criminal exploitation is defined as criminals leveraging children to commit offences on their behalf, offering money and presents in return. Wiltshire Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner stated that their “Spot the Signs” initiative seeks to draw attention to indicators that a young individual may be drawn into gang culture. The police force confirmed that awareness-raising images and videos are being disseminated via social media and through engagements at schools. Rhys expressed that the campaign would contribute to wider dissemination of information. He elaborated, ” I had a family at 18, and my friends were either in prison or dead so I had to help myself.” He subsequently trained as a barber before joining the charity Escapeline, where he works as a youth mentor assisting children and adolescents vulnerable to exploitation. Pippa McVeigh, representing the neighbourhood harm reduction unit, cautioned about several warning signs to observe in young individuals. These include “unusual secretiveness, particularly around devices, mobile phones, social media accounts.” The sudden acquisition of high-value possessions, such as trainers, mobile phones, or an e-scooter, may also serve as an indicator. She further noted, “Children who would normally keep with a fairly regular schedule of going out and coming back home might suddenly be out a lot later and not saying where they are or who they are with.” Superintendent Doug Downing commented that exploitation manifests in various ways, with offenses perpetrated under coercion spanning from “drug dealing right the way through to high-value thefts and violence.” “Despite Wiltshire’s reputation as a safe county,” he advised against complacency, cautioning that children within Wiltshire are indeed being exploited. Individuals who suspect exploitation is occurring are encouraged to contact the police. For updates, follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.