Criminal exploitation and vulnerability in drug markets: A six-nation comparison of its recognition in international policy discourses and criminal justice systems

In the UK, the relatively recent “turn to vulnerability” in safeguarding and the criminal justice system has meant an increasing recognition that many children and vulnerable adults committing crimes, such as drug dealing, are in fact often victims of criminal exploitation involving manipulation and coercion. This recognition is fairly new, and the visibility of vulnerable/exploited children and adults is strongly impacting how they are dealt with and safeguarded. In the UK, criminal exploitation is strongly linked to a particular model of drug supply (County Lines) but in other parts of Europe there is also burgeoning recognition of Drug Market-related Criminal Exploitation (DMCE) manifesting in various forms. In most European states, DMCE is, however, as of yet, not as ‘visible’ or as accommodated by the various systems that process exploited children and adults, and still often see these as criminals first and vulnerable/exploited second. Drawing on an established international research network, we provide the first assessment of DMCE as an internationally relevant concept and how DMCE victims are situated across various spaces. Data derives from individual and team research stemming from Denmark, Republic of Ireland, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the UK supported by expert reflection on research evidence and analysis of criminal justice processing and media reporting in each context. Findings show that DMCE is present in all contexts, that its degree of socio-legal visibility varies and that “offender” versus “victim” narratives continue to dominate the extent to which young DMCE victims are accommodated as such.