Severe penalties for those that buy drugs from schoolchildren.
Severe penalties for those that buy drugs from schoolchildren.
The Issue
Child Criminal Exploitation.
Imagine a 13-year-old child, entrapped in the wicked world of County Lines drug dealing, mercilessly exploited by adults. He stands veiled under the dusky twilight, on unknown street corners, surreptitiously selling illegal drugs to the 'buyers' that approach him.
In the event of an arrest, it is predominantly the 'seller' who is in the spotlight taking all the risks.
The countless buyers who perpetuate this cycle of exploit and crime, rarely face the same level of scrutiny or punishment. This needs to change. Such a tale is not a figment of fiction; it is very much the harsh reality for countless minors.
Primary School Children Recruited.
*Young people aged 14-17 are most likely to be targeted by criminal groups but there are reports of 7-year-olds being groomed into County Lines.
Primary school children are seen as easy targets because they're less likely to get caught. The grooming might start with them being asked to 'keep watch' but it soon escalates to them being forced to stash weapons, money, or become drug couriers.
*Source: www.chidrenssociety.org.uk
Target The 'Buyers'.
Paradoxically, if this story were about minors standing on a street corner being made to sell indecent photographs of children, we redouble our efforts to actually catch and arrest the 'buyers' - and rightly view the minors as the victims.
We recently heard about how a well-known disgraced BBC News presenter was given a suspended prison sentence for 'buying' indecent images of children, therefore, facilitating Child Sexual Exploitation.
However, there wasn't much news on 'who' he bought the images from - although the seller on this occasion was not a minor.
Ever heard on the news how a 'buyer' was arrested for purchasing drugs from a minor on a regular basis - with no regard at all to the child exploitation they are facilitating? No, me neither.
In the world of minors selling drugs it is the opposite way around. We arrest the 'seller' and do not pursue all the names and numbers in their burner phones - that information is only used as evidence to convict.
Imagine if all those names and numbers had actually bought an indecent image of child - the law would no doubt track them down and convict.
A Credible Deterrent.
I propose the enactment of a distinct legislation that focuses on punishing the buyers from purchasing their drugs from a minor - it will not just focus on 'what' illegal drugs they have purchased but 'who' they have purchased their drugs from - regardless of what age they assumed the seller was.
The penalties must be stringent enough to act as a credible deterrent.
This move would undoubtedly dissuade the buyers from purchasing their drugs from minors due to the spotlight now firmly, and quite rightly, on them.
They would also face the very real prospect of a prison sentence, and being named-and-shamed for facilitating Child Criminal Exploitation.
Make Minors Way too Toxic to Recruit!
Focusing on the buyers makes recruiting minors an unattractive option to any drug dealer due to their customers now fearing being named-and-shamed, and facing a possible prison sentence.
This affects the dealers where it hurts the most - in their pockets. It would not be worth their while to recruit a minor even if that minor wanted to sell drugs for them.
Eradicate Child County Lines.
*Verifiable studies reveal that more strict penalties can indeed deter drug-related crimes. Let's take a stand to make the lives of our youth safer.
*Source: National Institute of Justice.
Sign the petition. Advocate for a new law that will not only protect our children from drug-related dangers but also penalises those malicious individuals, the buyers, who exploit vulnerable children and see it as a 'minor offence' for just buying a £20 snap-bag of cannabis.
'It's now time to make the Buyers think twice!'
****PLEASE BE AWARE THAT I DO NOT ENDORSE ANY OF THE PETITIONS BELOW - I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO REMOVE THEM FROM THIS PAGE. I AM ONLY ENDORSING A NEW LAW FOR THOSE BUYING CONTROLLED DRUGS FROM MINORS****
76
The Issue
Child Criminal Exploitation.
Imagine a 13-year-old child, entrapped in the wicked world of County Lines drug dealing, mercilessly exploited by adults. He stands veiled under the dusky twilight, on unknown street corners, surreptitiously selling illegal drugs to the 'buyers' that approach him.
In the event of an arrest, it is predominantly the 'seller' who is in the spotlight taking all the risks.
The countless buyers who perpetuate this cycle of exploit and crime, rarely face the same level of scrutiny or punishment. This needs to change. Such a tale is not a figment of fiction; it is very much the harsh reality for countless minors.
Primary School Children Recruited.
*Young people aged 14-17 are most likely to be targeted by criminal groups but there are reports of 7-year-olds being groomed into County Lines.
Primary school children are seen as easy targets because they're less likely to get caught. The grooming might start with them being asked to 'keep watch' but it soon escalates to them being forced to stash weapons, money, or become drug couriers.
*Source: www.chidrenssociety.org.uk
Target The 'Buyers'.
Paradoxically, if this story were about minors standing on a street corner being made to sell indecent photographs of children, we redouble our efforts to actually catch and arrest the 'buyers' - and rightly view the minors as the victims.
We recently heard about how a well-known disgraced BBC News presenter was given a suspended prison sentence for 'buying' indecent images of children, therefore, facilitating Child Sexual Exploitation.
However, there wasn't much news on 'who' he bought the images from - although the seller on this occasion was not a minor.
Ever heard on the news how a 'buyer' was arrested for purchasing drugs from a minor on a regular basis - with no regard at all to the child exploitation they are facilitating? No, me neither.
In the world of minors selling drugs it is the opposite way around. We arrest the 'seller' and do not pursue all the names and numbers in their burner phones - that information is only used as evidence to convict.
Imagine if all those names and numbers had actually bought an indecent image of child - the law would no doubt track them down and convict.
A Credible Deterrent.
I propose the enactment of a distinct legislation that focuses on punishing the buyers from purchasing their drugs from a minor - it will not just focus on 'what' illegal drugs they have purchased but 'who' they have purchased their drugs from - regardless of what age they assumed the seller was.
The penalties must be stringent enough to act as a credible deterrent.
This move would undoubtedly dissuade the buyers from purchasing their drugs from minors due to the spotlight now firmly, and quite rightly, on them.
They would also face the very real prospect of a prison sentence, and being named-and-shamed for facilitating Child Criminal Exploitation.
Make Minors Way too Toxic to Recruit!
Focusing on the buyers makes recruiting minors an unattractive option to any drug dealer due to their customers now fearing being named-and-shamed, and facing a possible prison sentence.
This affects the dealers where it hurts the most - in their pockets. It would not be worth their while to recruit a minor even if that minor wanted to sell drugs for them.
Eradicate Child County Lines.
*Verifiable studies reveal that more strict penalties can indeed deter drug-related crimes. Let's take a stand to make the lives of our youth safer.
*Source: National Institute of Justice.
Sign the petition. Advocate for a new law that will not only protect our children from drug-related dangers but also penalises those malicious individuals, the buyers, who exploit vulnerable children and see it as a 'minor offence' for just buying a £20 snap-bag of cannabis.
'It's now time to make the Buyers think twice!'
****PLEASE BE AWARE THAT I DO NOT ENDORSE ANY OF THE PETITIONS BELOW - I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO REMOVE THEM FROM THIS PAGE. I AM ONLY ENDORSING A NEW LAW FOR THOSE BUYING CONTROLLED DRUGS FROM MINORS****
76
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on 5 September 2024