How Are Children Being Drawn Into Drug Gangs in Grimsby?

A mother has raised serious concerns about the exploitation of children by criminal gangs in Grimsby after claiming her 13-year-old son was groomed into delivering drugs and remained at risk while living in local authority care.

The woman, identified by the BBC as Sandra to protect her identity, said her son was recruited by a criminal gang at the age of 13 and was soon involved in drug deliveries, substance misuse and the theft of motorbikes.

She claimed he was sometimes forced to deliver drugs for periods of up to 36 hours, describing the work as something he was recruited to do as easily as getting a paper round.

Sandra said she repeatedly asked North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) for help but believed it took two years for her son to be moved to a safer environment.

The case forms part of a BBC investigation into child criminal exploitation (CCE), which has highlighted concerns about the recruitment of vulnerable children by criminal networks and the ability of authorities to protect those at risk.

According to Sandra, her son was first groomed by a gang when he was 13. She said his behaviour changed rapidly over the following months, with him frequently going missing from home and becoming involved in criminal activity.

She said her son, who has autism and ADHD, was recruited to steal motorbikes and deliver drugs. His condition and increasing substance misuse added to the family's concerns.

Sandra described the situation as frightening, saying her son became increasingly unwell and had visible injuries, including scars and bruises.

At the age of 14, he was taken into care following what his mother described as a breakdown linked to addiction and exploitation. She said his behaviour had also become violent, leaving other family members feeling unsafe.

However, Sandra questioned the decision to accommodate him in an area where she believed criminal exploitation was taking place.

She said she had expected professionals to recognise the risks and help protect her son but felt the response had been inadequate.

Sandra said her son was initially placed in accommodation in Grimsby, which she believed left him exposed to the same criminal influences that had contributed to his exploitation.

He was eventually moved to a care home more than 250 miles away. However, within weeks, he reportedly left the placement and returned to Grimsby before being sent back.

The BBC reported that the placement cost £1.66m over two years.

Sandra said she had not abandoned hope of bringing her son home, adding that she would continue trying to secure his return.

NELC declined to comment on individual cases but said child criminal exploitation was taken extremely seriously and remained a top priority for the council and police.

The authority said challenging situations could arise and that lessons were continually being learnt.

Figures obtained by the BBC from the Home Office show that the number of children recognised as victims of child criminal exploitation in the UK has increased by 85% over five years, reaching more than 3,000 in the 2025/26 financial year.

The investigation also found an increase in the number of children identified as potentially at risk in North East Lincolnshire.

NELC data showed that 153 children were identified as potentially vulnerable to criminal exploitation in 2025/26, representing a 56% increase over five years.

Around two-thirds of those cases involved children aged 15 or younger. The number of potentially vulnerable children aged nine and under more than doubled, rising from 12 to 25 in the latest financial year.

The council said the increase reflected improved information sharing and earlier intervention to identify children who might be vulnerable.

A former NELC care worker, identified by the BBC as Jane, said she had seen increasingly young children being drawn into criminal activity.

She told the broadcaster that some children had reportedly been offered food in exchange for collecting drugs.

Jane also raised concerns about staff shortages, high turnover and the growing use of agency workers in children's homes.

Figures obtained through a separate Freedom of Information request showed that the number of agency workers used by NELC in its children's homes increased from four in 2021/22 to 81 in 2025/26.

The council also spent almost £1.4m on agency supply staff between March 2022 and September 2026.

Jane argued that frequent staff changes could make it harder for workers to understand children's circumstances, recognise warning signs and share important safeguarding information.

The BBC also reported concerns about children being targeted by criminal networks while living in care placements.

Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children's Commissioner for England, described the scale of child criminal exploitation as deeply concerning.

She said it was unacceptable for children taken into care to remain exposed to the dangers from which they were supposed to be protected.

North East Lincolnshire Council said safeguarding young people remained central to its work, adding that it was taking a proactive and preventative approach to protecting children, supporting families and disrupting exploitation.

Ch Supt Craig Nicholson, head of safeguarding at Humberside Police, said child criminal exploitation was a complex crime to investigate.

He stressed that not every child who commits an offence is necessarily being exploited. However, he said authorities should consider each child's age, circumstances, vulnerability and the possible influence of others.

Policing Minister Sarah Jones said a new child criminal exploitation offence would be introduced to target gangs that draw children into criminal activity.

Child criminal exploitation can involve grooming, intimidation, threats, violence and manipulation. Children may be encouraged or forced to transport drugs, carry weapons or carry out thefts for the benefit of criminal networks.

The police and safeguarding organisations warn that children involved in offending may themselves be victims of exploitation. Recognising the difference is important when deciding how to protect vulnerable young people and respond to criminal activity.

Sandra's account highlights the concerns families can face when a child becomes involved with criminal gangs and the difficulties they may encounter when seeking help.

She said she would continue fighting to bring her son home.