A mum’s desperate call to police about her missing son kicks off the next episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody which airs this weekend, focusing on how drugs gangs are grooming vulnerable boys in Bedfordshire.
The Channel 4 documentary series returns on Sunday 13 July at 9pm with Lost Boys, an episode which highlights child exploitation by county lines gangs and a Luton man, Jamal Andall, who became the first county lines dealers in Bedfordshire to be convicted of modern slavery offences.
The episode starts with a missing person report of a 15-year-old boy and follows Bedfordshire Police as they search for clues. When officers raid a house linked to drug dealing, the investigation quickly escalates. With cameras following their every move, detectives piece together how a drugs line is being run and how vulnerable boys are being manipulated into doing the gang’s dirty work.
Gary Hales, Investigation Officer, said: “This episode clearly shows how young people, and boys in particular, can be groomed and used by drugs gangs. The problem is that often they don’t realise they are being exploited and that they are victims until it is too late.
“This is a really powerful episode which we hope encourages parents and carers to be alert to signs of exploitation and report any concerns to us. We’re not here to criminalise young people who are victims themselves. As this episode shows, we’re interested in finding out who those people are at the very top of the drugs line and ensuring they are brought to justice.”
The documentary coincides with Bedfordshire Police’s Lost Boys campaign – an initiative to raise awareness among parents, carers and teenagers about how child exploitation can start with something as subtle as a new gift or some cash in a young person’s pocket.
The Lost Boys campaign also includes a hard-hitting 30-minute virtual reality film that tells the fictional story of a teenager who is groomed by a gang member – a cautionary tale that mirrors real cases happening across Luton and wider Bedfordshire.
Police say exploitation doesn’t discriminate – it can happen to any child, no matter their background, religion or gender. And while the signs can sometimes be easy to miss, there are key things families in Luton should look out for:
- A child going missing from school or home and being found in other areas
- Having unexplained money, new clothes or electronics
- Getting lots of calls or texts, or being secretive about who they’re talking to
- A drop in performance at school or work
- Sudden changes in mood or physical health
Bedfordshire Police will also be running educational events and webinars as part of the campaign to help families understand what to watch for and how to take action.
