KIDS are forcing their grannies to become drug mules after being groomed by gangs, a damning report today warns.
Former Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield has revealed how thousands of youngsters are being exploited, harmed and even killed after slipping through the cracks.
Her investigation lays bare how sick gangsters use a “clinical ruthlessness” to trap youngsters into a life of crime.
In horrific instances they are told to “pressure their less suspicious grandmothers” to smuggle drugs on their behalf.
Ms Longfield told the Sun: “Essentially, the gangs are saying if your grandma does that, they won’t be suspicious, no one will stop them and they’ll get away scot free.”
She said that some grandmothers agree because they are “desperate” to rescue their grandchild from “an even worse situation” where they would incur the wrath of the gangs.
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Evil criminals are also trying to recruit from leafier communities as posher youngsters are less likely to get caught.
Ms Longfield said: “They’re less likely to get searched and they’re less likely to get caught, especially if they’re looking to run drugs in a more middle class area.”
Her report says parents’ cries for help are left “unanswered” as the state is “failing in its duty to protect vulnerable children”.
Government stats show 11,600 instances of kids falling into gangs and 10,140 cases of child criminal exploitation, which is likely the “tip of the iceberg”.
The report “Hidden In Plain Sight” also suggests there could be as many as 200,000 teenagers in England vulnerable to horrific violence.
Ms Longfield, now Chair of the Commission on Young Lives, urges the government to establish a network of Sure Start hubs for teenagers to get help.
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She also wants a one-off mental health recovery programme funded by a levy on social media and mobile phone firms.
And the report urges schools to stay open at weekends and during holidays so vulnerable kids have a place to go supervised.
