Oxfordshire students warned on county lines and child exploitation

Dame Sara Thornton, former UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner and Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, gave a keynote lecture titled: Child Exploitation and County Lines.

The event, held at Oxford Brookes University on Friday, April 17, saw Judges, barristers, court staff, politicians and charity workers in attendance.

The event marked the 10th anniversary of Getting Court, a charity dedicated to helping young people understand the justice system and avoid pathways into crime.

Founded in 2015, Getting Court was created to address the gap in young people’s understanding of the legal system.

The charity provides educational visits to Oxford Crown Court, prison visit programmes in partnership with HMP Huntercombe, and school visits by prisoners or released prisoners.

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Getting Court event (Image: Nicholas Posner)

Opening the proceedings, the charity’s chair of trustees Tom Birch Reynardson said: “We really do have an issue with county lines and with children being exploited. We need to make a public declaration of intent. In Oxfordshire and elsewhere we have got to tackle this.

“We hope people will take this message home that this is a project which is simple and effective.”

Pete Bryan, prison officer at HMP Huntercombe, said: “The golden egg of the Getting Court project is the offender who has turned that corner and can educate a 14-year-old student and make that boy or girl think and understand where poor choices can lead.

“Our project offers something that is seen far too little in the prison system, rehabilitation. The student can help rehabilitate a prisoner by giving them purpose, proving that rehabilitation is at its most powerful when it protects others.”

The event then heard from ex-inmate Chris Abeso, 35, who was recently released from prison after serving six-and-a-half years for firearms offences.

He said: “That time gave me the chance to reflect on my choices, the effect they had and what I wanted to pursue in my life.

“When I was in prison, I had a lot of time to think. After spending more than 12-and-a-half years behind bars throughout my life, I realised it doesn’t take much to make the wrong choices.

“Prison is hard. It takes your life, it takes your freedom. Coming out isn’t easy, you have to rebuild and that’s why programs like Getting Court are so important.

“Sometimes, it only take an honest conversation to change direction.”

The event also heard from Cheryl West, head of safeguarding at Lord Williams School, and a 16-year-old boy called Casey who has been held by Getting Court.

The event concluded with the lecture from Dame Sara Thornton and closing remarks from High Sheriff of Oxfordshire Jawaid Malik JP.