Police have launched over 50 Child Sexual Exploitation investigations in the past year across Northern Ireland, as the PSNI warns that criminal gangs are increasingly targeting vulnerable young people for coercion into drug supply and organised crime.
The investigations covered a range of offences including abduction of a child in care and sexual activity with a child under 13.
The 54 investigations were carried out between April 2025 and March 2026, with the PSNI warning that they are seeing ‘increasingly seeing vulnerable young people targeted for criminal exploitation — including coercion into drug supply, and other organised crime activity’.
They added: “This form of abuse often involves grooming, intimidation, and debt bondage, leaving children feeling trapped and fearful.”
Exploitation cases are among the most complex to investigate, often involving victims who are fearful of coming forward.
Forty-two children are currently registered on Northern Ireland’s Child Sexual Exploitation framework, police revealed.
Since a devolved National Referral Mechanism pilot launched in January 2026, 13 children have been referred to the panel.
The figures come as part of a broader PSNI push to tackle Child Criminal Exploitation alongside its existing work on sexual exploitation.
Police said they are introducing enhanced data recording, new identification tools and expanded training to help frontline officers recognise and respond to exploitation earlier.
Detective Chief Inspector Claire Gilbert said the force was clear that “exploitation does not sit in silos,” adding that criminal networks were adapting and the PSNI response was expanding accordingly.
“Child exploitation is child abuse — whether it is sexual, criminal, online or organised,” she said. “We are seeing vulnerable young people deliberately targeted, groomed and manipulated by those who seek to profit from harm. Exploitation thrives in silence.”
DCI Gilbert said the expanded focus on Child Criminal Exploitation would help identify children at risk earlier and ensure victims were “safeguarded rather than criminalised.”
PSNI said warning signs can include unexplained money or gifts, new older friends, going missing, carrying multiple phones, and a sudden decline in school attendance or performance.
Anyone with concerns can contact PSNI on 101, call 999 in an emergency, or report anonymously through Crimestoppers.
