Report highlights drug-related teen exploitation

Youngsters are being exploited to sell illegal drugs, a report says

A report has highlighted growing concern for teenage exploitation related to illegal drugs in Jersey.

The Probation Service's annual report said there was an increasing trend of older dealers taking advantage of people as young as 15.

Probation chief officer Mike Cutland said youngsters got into debt buying cannabis and were told by dealers they could pay it off by selling the drugs themselves.

Mr Cutland said whilst numbers were small at this stage, it was something they were seeing more often, as the offenders were prosecuted by the courts.

"Our work with children remains particularly thought-provoking," said Mr Cutland.

"We have seen some children criminally exploited by adults in the importation and supply of drugs, and we are working with children and their families, with the assistance of partner agencies to help them break what can be a risky and worrying cycle of behaviour."

'Recruitment challenges'

Another ongoing issue highlighted in the annual report is recruitment, with the Probation Service having to call on private firms to assist with staffing.

"Recruitment has continued to be a challenge to all island sectors and the Probation Service is no exception," said Mr Cutland.

"Recruitment challenges have been experienced in the community service scheme where it has proved extremely difficult to recruit part-time staff to work at weekends.

"As a result, we partnered with G4S to work alongside probation staff supervising work parties of clients.

"G4S has fitted in extremely well to an existing excellent team," he said

'Successful year'

Overall, the Probation Service said it has been "a successful year", with a "high completion rate of court orders", and "positive feedback from our clients".

In 2023, criminals in Jersey completed more than 12,000 hours of community service, equal to £130,000 worth of unpaid work based on the 2023 minimum wage.

The report added, more than 85% of Probation Orders and Community Service Orders were successfully completed, in excess of its target of 75%.

The Probation Service said almost all those undertaking community service "felt pleased they had done something to help the community", whilst more than half those surveyed felt they had learnt new skills whilst on the scheme.