Serious Violence and Exploitation
In this context, serious violence includes high‑harm crimes such as serious assaults, knife crime, robbery, sexual violence and homicide. It also includes criminal activity where violence or the threat of violence is part of the harm, such as county lines drug exploitation.
Exploitation happens when someone is groomed, coerced or pressured into activities that benefit others and cause harm to them. This can affect children, young people and adults, and may include criminal or sexual exploitation, trafficking, forced labour or involvement in gangs.
Wokingham remains a generally safe place to live. However, like many areas, some violent offences have increased in recent years. Evidence shows that serious violence and exploitation are often linked, particularly where young people are involved. This means prevention, early help and joined‑up working are essential.
Under the Serious Violence Duty, organisations have a responsibility to work together to reduce serious harm. In Wokingham, this is led by the Serious Violence and Exploitation Board.
The Board meets regularly to:
- understand local risks and patterns of harm
- produce a local needs assessment
- oversee delivery of a joint strategy and action plan
A key principle is treating serious violence as preventable. This means focusing on early intervention, addressing root causes and reducing risk, rather than responding only after harm has occurred.
Early Intervention and Prevention:
Partners work together to spot risks as early as possible. This includes sharing information between police, schools and colleges, youth services, social care and health to understand patterns and places where harm may be increasing, or where young people may be especially vulnerable.
Some common risk factors for serious violence and exploitation include:
- missing school or college or being excluded
- drug or alcohol use
- poor mental health or unmet emotional needs
- unstable home life or experience of domestic abuse
- involvement with peers or adults linked to crime
- previous harm, such as bullying, assault or exploitation
When these risks are identified, agencies respond using a contextual safeguarding approach. This means looking beyond the individual and understanding the wider influences around them, such as friendships, neighbourhoods and online activity. Support is offered to the person and their family to reduce risk and increase safety.
For example:
- A school or college may raise concerns about a pupil who is frequently absent and associating with older peers involved in anti‑social behaviour. In response, partners may come together to agree a supportive plan, which could include positive activities, family support and increased supervision at key times or places.
- If police identify a young person carrying a weapon or being used by others to commit crime, Children’s Social Care may assess them as a potential victim of exploitation. This can lead to specialist support, safety planning and protective measures.
Youth services, charities and community organisations are key partners in this work, particularly through outreach during evenings and weekends. Parents and communities are also supported with information and advice to help recognise early warning signs and keep young people safe.
All responses are person‑centred and trauma‑informed. Many young people affected by serious violence or exploitation have experienced trauma. Building trust, offering consistent support, and addressing mental health or substance misuse needs are central to reducing harm and preventing further violence.
Supporting Prevention and Early Help
Guidance for Professionals
Professionals who work with children, young people, adults at risk, families and carers have an important role in helping people feel safe, listened to and supported.
Talking about safety, harm or exploitation can feel difficult – especially when trust, fear or past experiences are involved. Taking a calm, compassionate and respectful approach can make these conversations feel safer and more meaningful.
By using trauma‑informed practice, professionals can help build confidence, strengthen emotional resilience and support people to make informed choices for themselves.
Prevention: Children and Young People
What Professionals Can Do – Stay True to You
Start conversations that feel safe
- Create opportunities for open and honest conversations.
- Build relationships based on trust and mutual respect.
- Young people may worry about being judged or getting into trouble – listening without judgement can help them feel safe to talk.
- Focus on what matters to them right now, while gently exploring possible consequences to support positive decision‑making.
Recognise how safety is experienced
- A young person’s sense of safety is shaped by many factors, both online and offline.
- Feeling unsafe can affect behaviour, confidence and choices.
- Changes in behaviour may be a sign that someone is struggling or needs support.
Listen to understand
- Show that you are listening by giving time, attention and space.
- Let young people share experiences in their own words.
- Avoid assumptions – their experiences are valid, even if they are hard to hear.
Empower and reassure
- Help young people recognise their own strengths and ability to stay safe.
- Encourage them to make choices that feel right for them.
- Notice and positively reinforce safer or healthier decisions when they happen.
More information on recognising and responding to risks of exploitation or serious violence is available at:
👉 https://staytruetoyou.co.uk/
If you are concerned about a child or young person, or would like advice, visit the Berkshire West Safeguarding Children Partnership:
👉 https://www.berkshirewestsafeguardingchildrenpartnership.org.uk/scp
Prevention: Adults (18+)
What Professionals Can Do
Build trust through open communication
- Use clear, honest and respectful language.
- People may not always feel ready to talk due to fear or past experiences.
- Reassure them that support is about safety and care, not blame or judgement.
Support people to stay safe
- Encourage individuals to talk to someone they trust if they feel frightened, pressured or controlled.
- With older adults or adults with disabilities, talk gently about issues such as scams, coercion or undue influence.
- Let people know it is okay to say no and to ask for help.
Promote everyday safety
- Simple steps can reduce risk and increase confidence, such as:
- Checking identification before allowing unknown people into the home.
- Being cautious when sharing personal or financial information, in person, by phone or online.
- Staying aware of surroundings and keeping personal belongings secure.
Look out for one another
- Strong communities help keep people safe.
- Check in on people who may be isolated, elderly or living with a disability.
- If you notice possible signs of harm or exploitation (for example unexplained injuries, fearfulness, withdrawal, or controlling behaviour), consider seeking advice.
- Where appropriate, share information about local support services.
Encourage early help
- Support does not need to wait for a crisis.
- If someone may be at risk of harm, exploitation or abuse, encourage them to seek help early.
- This may include speaking to a GP, a trusted professional, a support organisation, or reporting concerns through appropriate safeguarding channels.
- Early support can prevent situations from becoming more serious.
Reassurance for professionals and communities
Speaking up is about protection and support. People will not get into trouble for sharing concerns. Services are there to help, not judge. If something does not feel right, it is always okay to ask for advice.
Getting help early can make a real difference – and in some cases, save lives.
Enforcement and Disruption:
Prevention is always the priority, but policing and enforcement are an important part of keeping people safe.
Targeted policing
Thames Valley Police carry out focused action where serious harm is occurring, such as knife crime or organised exploitation. This may include extra patrols or stop‑and‑search powers in specific areas, alongside work to safeguard those at risk.
County lines and exploitation
We work closely with police and regional partners to disrupt county lines drug exploitation. When operations identify people being exploited, the priority is their safety and support, with follow‑up help offered to reduce the risk of further harm.
Managing risk and reducing re‑offending
For people convicted of serious violence, partners such as probation, police and support services work together to reduce the risk of re‑offending. This can include help with housing, education, employment and access to behaviour‑change or mentoring programmes, always with victim safety at the centre.
Problem‑solving in communities
The partnership uses a problem‑solving approach to respond to repeat concerns. By understanding local patterns and listening to community feedback, partners agree responses that combine enforcement (such as targeted patrols) with prevention (such as youth outreach or environmental improvements). Actions are reviewed regularly and adjusted where needed.
This balanced approach helps protect communities while also addressing the causes of harm, not just the symptoms.
Exploitation and Safeguarding:
What is exploitation?
Exploitation is when someone is taken advantage of or manipulated for another person’s gain. This often happens through an imbalance of power, where someone uses control, pressure, or deception to harm another person’s wellbeing, rights, or dignity.
Anyone can be affected by exploitation, but children, older people, and adults with care and support needs may be at greater risk.
How exploitation happens
Exploitation can take many forms, including financial, sexual, criminal, labour, or emotional exploitation. It often involves grooming, coercion, or abuse of trust, where a person is influenced, controlled, or forced into situations they would not otherwise choose.
This can happen in person or online, and the person experiencing exploitation may not always recognise what is happening, or may feel unable to seek help.
The impact of exploitation
Exploitation can have serious and long-lasting effects on people’s lives. It may affect a person’s safety, health, wellbeing, and independence. People who experience exploitation may face:
- Financial hardship or loss
- Trauma and emotional distress
- Social isolation
- Loss of confidence and independence
- Difficulties trusting others
Children and adults may feel powerless or unable to speak up, which is why early help, support, and understanding are so important.
Key contacts for serious violence and exploitation concerns
- Children and young people
MASH (Children’s Safeguarding):
📞 0118 908 8002 | ✉️ triage@wokingham.gov.uk
Out of hours: 📞 01344 351999
- Adults at risk
Adult Safeguarding Hub:
📞 0118 974 6371 | ✉️ AdultSafeguardingHub@wokingham.gov.uk
Out of hours: 📞 01344 351999
- Police (non‑emergency)
📞 101 or report online via the Thames Valley Police website
- Report anonymously
Crimestoppers: 📞 0800 555 111
- Modern slavery or trafficking concerns
Modern Slavery Helpline: 📞 08000 121 700
If someone is in immediate danger, always call 999.