“I had a weird pain in my stomach, like something wasn’t right”
Getting support
Rob and Tyrone’s story was created with the help from young people at Cherwell School, Oxford and UTC, Didcot. SAFE! works with young people like Tyrone every day.
If you are struggling to cope with the impact of crime, tell someone what has happened, they might be able to help. To find out more about the support SAFE! provides, check out our website, or get in touch with us directly, and someone will call you back.
You can get immediate help from Childline on their website or by calling on 0800 1111.
Victim Support has information and further help for young victims of crime
If you are in immediate danger, call the police by dialling 999.
How to help a friend who is involved in drug exploitation
- Let your friend know that you are there for them, check in on them, invite them to hang out with you. Let them know they can talk to you.
- Observe and acknowledge changes in your friend’s behaviour.
- Talk to a trusted adult about your concerns and share your observations.
- Do not take on the drug dealers yourself, this could negatively escalate the situation.
- Report drug exploitation to the Police by telephoning 101 reporting online, or 999 if someone is in immediate danger, or anonymously on the Fearless website
Different words/terms associated with drug exploitation
- Cuckooing – This is when a drug gang takes over a vulnerable person’s home.Then may do this by encouraging a friendship, through threat or intimidations. Drugs may be produced and or sold from the house.
- Stash House – An area or house frequented by drug dealers.
- Stuff/plug – To hide and carry drugs inside your body – usually your rectum or vagina
- Going Country – Travelling from one area to another to deliver and sell drugs.
- Trapping – This is used to describe selling drugs on the street and moving them from one location to another.
Friend or Foe?
- Why would a grown up want to hang around with children and young people?
- The grown up has given you gifts, why?
- What do they want in exchange?
- How did you meet this grown up? Is their back story legit? Did Paul really know Rob’s older brother?
- What would other trusted adults say about this relationship?
Trust your gut instinct
- When Paul gave Rob and Tyrone the rucksack, Rob noticed a weird pain in his stomach, like something wasn’t right.
- At SAFE! we call signs such as these our Early Warning Signs and they are a good indicator that something is making us feel unsafe.
- Other Early Warning Signs might include feeling shaky in arms and/or legs, clammy hands, sweaty, feeling hot, dizzy, feeling sick.
- Think of time you have felt scared – how did your body feel?
- What to do when you experience Early Warning Signs?
- Stop, acknowledge them, question why might you be feeling them? Ask someone from your support network for help.
Further information and support
For information on different types of gangs and info on how to spot exploitation visit NSPCC.
Fearless is a site where you can access non-judgemental information and advice about crime and criminality. It is also possible to report crimes anonymously through this website.
Honest information about drugs.
Childline 0800 1111
SAFE! 0800 133 7938