Latest news with #Children'sSociety
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Revealed: The shocking number of Brits asked to help launder money as poll reveals how gangs are targeting ordinary people to wash their ill-gotten gains
One in five Brits say they have been asked to help launder money - proving that gangs are targeting ordinary people to wash the proceeds of crimes. Organised criminals use a variety of methods to make dirty cash gained through illicit activities like drug dealing and sex trafficking appear legitimate. While traditional options like establishing front businesses remain popular, crime groups are increasingly exploiting unwitting members of the public to clean money on their behalf. Research by Virgin Money shared exclusively with MailOnline found 21 per cent of people have been asked to receive funds into their bank account, apply for a loan in someone else's name or open a new account - usually in return for cash. A growing trend has seen criminals ask youngsters to hold cash in their accounts before sending it elsewhere. The study, which polled 2,000 adults, found nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of Gen Zers have been directly asked to do this. And worryingly, over half (52 per cent) did not realise that agreeing to do so risked a criminal prosecution for money laundering that could see them jailed for up to 14 years. Many so-called 'money mules' are approached via social media and online gaming, but the survey found that over a third (37 per cent) were contacted by family or friends. In one case previously revealed by the Children's Society, a boy of 14 and his family were threatened at gunpoint. Youngsters are often groomed by gangs, who offer them the prospect of making easy money or being rewarded with treats such as a new phone or a pair of trainers. They are typically convinced to provide their bank details, before being asked to transfer the funds received to another account and keep some of the cash for themselves – making them a money mule. The Children's Society Mark Russell warned last year that the cost of living crisis had left youngsters more vulnerable to being offered bribes, which in some cases could be as small as a meal at McDonald's. 'Children absorb their parents' worries and if they are stressed about money then children will be too. If somebody offers them the chance to make some easy money, they are going to take it,' he said. Transferring illicit cash to an ordinary person's account before it is sent elsewhere can make it harder for the authorities to trace. Jamie Wolff, money mules strategy director at Virgin Money, explained that the spread of social media meant 'anyone' could be targeted but under-35s were the most at risk. He said one danger sign was being offered a job that promised a large salary in return for little or no work. Huang was filmed depositing £3,500 worth of cash at the travel money counter at a Post Office in Stirling 'Other things to look out for are ''too good to be true'' opportunities from friends, family, someone at university or new romantic partners,' he continued. 'If you're approached, it's important that you don't engage or share any personal details with the person contacting you. 'You should then report the incident either to the social media outlet or email provider or the police.' Mr Wolff said the funds held by money mules were often the product of serious crimes including sex trafficking, human trafficking and fraud. Foreign students are often targeted by gangs to help move criminal cash across borders. They include Xiaotong Huang who was jailed for nearly 18 months for laundering nearly £85,000 for a crime boss. The 28-year-old travelled around Scotland in a Mercedes distributing money given to her by Wai Ma - who went by 'Mr Big'. This attracted the attention of the police, and she was watched by undercover surveillance officers as she deposited £3,500 worth of cash at the travel money counter at a Post Office in Stirling. Huang used her slice of the profits to pay her tuition fees at the University of Stirling and buy luxury goods from Gucci, Burberry, Coach and Harrods. She also bought £6,900 of wine in one week and bought a £480 Louis Vuitton bag. She was jailed for 18 months after being found guilty of money laundering following a trial at Falkirk Sheriff Court in March 2023. The issue of youngsters being approached by criminals on social media is not new, with the tactic regularly used by other organised groups, including county lines drug gangs. Cathy Haenlein, Director of Organised Crime and Policing Studies at RUSI, said common tactics were to offer money or other gifts before trapping them into drug dealing. Meanwhile, the National Crime Agency has warned of Nigerian crime gangs posing as young women to target boys as young as 14 on social media sites like Snapchat and Instagram. The perpetrators trick the victims into sending explicit images before demanding payments of around £100.
Telegraph
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Starmer: Watching Adolescence with my kids wasn't easy
Sir Keir Starmer said he did not find watching the Netflix drama Adolescence with his children 'easy'. The Prime Minister warned there was no 'simple solution' to stop boys from being dragged into a world of online misogyny as he spoke to the writers of the television drama. He said he wanted to talk about 'what can we do as a society to stop and prevent young boys being dragged into this whirlpool of hatred and misogyny', as he hosted creators of the Netflix drama at Downing Street. Jack Thorne, a writer for the show, Jo Johnson, a producer, and representatives from the NSPCC and Children's Society, joined the Prime Minister for a round-table discussion. It comes as Netflix said it would make the series, which examines so-called incel (involuntary celibate) culture, free to stream for all secondary schools in the UK. Sir Keir said he and his wife had watched it with his 14-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son. He said: 'As a dad, I have not found it easy viewing.' The drama centres around a teenage boy who is accused of killing a girl from his school. Sir Keir referred to real-life cases such as that of Kyle Clifford, the crossbow killer who watched misogynistic content before he murdered Louise Hunt, his ex-girlfriend, her mother and her sister. This type of violence against women 'isn't new', the Prime Minister said. 'It's pernicious and persistent. But what Adolescence shows is that it's now taken on a different form, or different characteristics.' He said the online world and social media means 'ideology' can be 'pumped directly into the minds of our children'. The show shines a light on issues that people do not know how to respond to, he said. Sir Keir added that there may not be a single response or 'policy lever to be pulled' to adequately address the issue. 'It's actually much bigger than that, almost a cultural issue, the devastating effect of misogyny on our society.' There is also a sense that there is no 'safe space' for children where they can access content at home or outside it, Sir Keir said. 'And I do think there is a sense of isolation going on here, and therefore we can't deal with these challenges just with the old tools that we have. I don't think there's a simple solution.' Thorne said he hopes a solution can be found to the issues raised by the series. 'It's about other people ... being given the opportunity to have conversations they haven't had before, and that they should have had, that might lead to policy change and things being made better for our young people,' he told Sky News after the meeting. It comes as a survey suggested three quarters of parents are concerned about what their children are consuming online, with 87 per cent saying they are not confident they know what content they are viewing. The exclusive snapshot survey of 622 British parents of five to 16-year-olds by Ipsos for the PA news agency showed 65 per cent said their child has a screen with access to the internet in their bedroom. The proportion rose to 78 per cent for parents with a child aged between 11 and 16. Most parents (about 80 per cent) said they think children should be at least 11 years old before getting a smartphone for their own personal use, and over half (54 per cent) said they would support a complete ban on smartphones in schools. Thorne recently rejected accusations of 'race-swapping' in the series. Social media posts amplified by Elon Musk suggested the story, which features a white actor, is based on Axel Rudakubana, the Southport killer. The series is not based on a true story and is 'making a point about masculinity' and not race, Thorne told the News Agents podcast. 'It's absurd to say that [knife crime] is only committed by black boys. It's absurd. It's not true. And history shows a lot of cases of kids from all races committing these crimes,' he added.
The Independent
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Adolescence ‘not easy viewing' says Starmer he backs streaming show in schools
Sir Keir Starmer has said there is no 'simple solution' to stop boys from being dragged into a 'whirlpool' of misogyny, as he spoke to writers of the television drama Adolescence. The Prime Minister said he wanted to talk about 'what can we do as a society to stop and prevent young boys being dragged into this whirlpool of hatred and misogyny', as he hosted creators of the Netflix drama at Downing Street. Writer Jack Thorne and producer Jo Johnson, and representatives from the NSPCC and Children's Society, joined the Prime Minister for a roundtable discussion. It comes as Netflix said it would make the series free to stream for all secondary schools across the UK. The TV drama, which examines so-called incel (involuntary celibate) culture, has prompted a national conversation about online safety. Sir Keir said he and his wife had watched it with his 14-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son, and that 'as a dad, I have not found it easy viewing'. "As a father, watching this show with my teenage son and daughter, I can tell you - it hit home hard,' he added. The drama centres around a teenage boy who is accused of killing a girl from his school. Sir Keir referred to real-life cases such as that of Kyle Clifford, the crossbow killer who watched misogynistic content before he murdered his ex-girlfriend and her mother and sister. This type of violence against women 'isn't new', the Prime Minister said. 'It's pernicious and persistent. But what Adolescence shows is that it's now taken on a different form, or different characteristics.' He said the online world and social media means 'ideology' can be 'pumped directly into the minds of our children'. The show shines a light on issues that people do not know how to respond to, he said. There may not be a single response or 'policy lever to be pulled' to adequately address the issue, he said. 'It's actually much bigger than that, almost a cultural issue, the devastating effect of misogyny on our society.' There is also a sense that there is no 'safe space' for children when they can access content whether they are in the home or outside it, he said. 'And I do think there is a sense of isolation going on here, and therefore we can't deal with these challenges just with the old tools that we have. I don't think there's a simple solution.' Thorne said he hopes a solution can be found to the issues raised by the series. 'It's about other people … being given the opportunity to have conversations they haven't had before and that they should have had that might lead to policy change and things being made better for our young people,' he told Sky News after the meeting. It comes as a survey suggested three quarters of parents are concerned about what their children are seeing, hearing or doing online, with 87% saying they are not confident they know what content is being viewed. The exclusive snapshot survey of 622 British parents of five to 16-year-olds by Ipsos for the PA news agency showed 65 per cent said their child has a screen with access to the internet in their bedroom. The proportion rose to 78 per cent for parents with a child aged between 11 and 16. Most parents (about 80 per cent) said they think children should be at least 11 years old before getting a smartphone for their own personal use, and more than half (54 per cent) said they would support a complete ban on smartphones in schools. In the TV drama, This Is England star Stephen Graham plays Eddie Miller, the father of 13-year-old Jamie, played by newcomer Owen Cooper, who sees armed police burst into his home to arrest his son. Thorne recently rejected accusations of 'race-swapping' in the series. Social media posts amplified by Elon Musk suggested the story, which features a white actor, is based on the Southport attacker. The series is not based on a true story and is 'making a point about masculinity' and not race, Thorne told the News Agents podcast. 'It's absurd to say that [knife crime] is only committed by black boys. It's absurd. It's not true. And history shows a lot of cases of kids from all races committing these crimes,' he added.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Starmer: No ‘simple solution' to boys being pulled into ‘whirlpool' of misogyny
Sir Keir Starmer has said there is no 'simple solution' to stop boys from being dragged into a 'whirlpool' of misogyny, as he spoke to writers of the television drama Adolescence. The Prime Minister said he wanted to talk about 'what can we do as a society to stop and prevent young boys being dragged into this whirlpool of hatred and misogyny', as he hosted creators of the Netflix drama at Downing Street. Writer Jack Thorne and producer Jo Johnson, and representatives from the NSPCC and Children's Society, joined the Prime Minister for a roundtable discussion. It comes as Netflix said it would make the series free to stream for all secondary schools across the UK. The TV drama, which examines so-called incel (involuntary celibate) culture, has prompted a national conversation about online safety. Sir Keir said he and his wife had watched it with his 14-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son, and that 'as a dad, I have not found it easy viewing'. The drama centres around a teenage boy who is accused of killing a girl from his school. Sir Keir referred to real-life cases such as that of Kyle Clifford, the crossbow killer who watched misogynistic content before he murdered his ex-girlfriend and her mother and sister. This type of violence against women 'isn't new', the Prime Minister said. 'It's pernicious and persistent. But what Adolescence shows is that it's now taken on a different form, or different characteristics.' He said the online world and social media means 'ideology' can be 'pumped directly into the minds of our children'. The show shines a light on issues that people do not know how to respond to, he said. There may not be a single response or 'policy lever to be pulled' to adequately address the issue, he said. 'It's actually much bigger than that, almost a cultural issue, the devastating effect of misogyny on our society.' There is also a sense that there is no 'safe space' for children when they can access content whether they are in the home or outside it, he said. 'And I do think there is a sense of isolation going on here, and therefore we can't deal with these challenges just with the old tools that we have. I don't think there's a simple solution.' Thorne said he hopes a solution can be found to the issues raised by the series. 'It's about other people … being given the opportunity to have conversations they haven't had before and that they should have had that might lead to policy change and things being made better for our young people,' he told Sky News after the meeting. It comes as a survey suggested three quarters of parents are concerned about what their children are seeing, hearing or doing online, with 87% saying they are not confident they know what content is being viewed. The exclusive snapshot survey of 622 British parents of five to 16-year-olds by Ipsos for the PA news agency showed 65% said their child has a screen with access to the internet in their bedroom. The proportion rose to 78% for parents with a child aged between 11 and 16. Most parents (about 80%) said they think children should be at least 11 years old before getting a smartphone for their own personal use, and more than half (54%) said they would support a complete ban on smartphones in schools. In the TV drama, This Is England star Stephen Graham plays Eddie Miller, the father of 13-year-old Jamie, played by newcomer Owen Cooper, who sees armed police burst into his home to arrest his son. Thorne recently rejected accusations of 'race-swapping' in the series. Social media posts amplified by Elon Musk suggested the story, which features a white actor, is based on the Southport attacker. The series is not based on a true story and is 'making a point about masculinity' and not race, Thorne told the News Agents podcast. 'It's absurd to say that [knife crime] is only committed by black boys. It's absurd. It's not true. And history shows a lot of cases of kids from all races committing these crimes,' he added.
The Independent
31-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Starmer: No ‘simple solution' to boys being pulled into ‘whirlpool' of misogyny
Sir Keir Starmer has said there is no 'simple solution' to stop boys from being dragged into a 'whirlpool' of misogyny, as he spoke to writers of the television drama Adolescence. The Prime Minister said he wanted to talk about 'what can we do as a society to stop and prevent young boys being dragged into this whirlpool of hatred and misogyny', as he hosted creators of the Netflix drama at Downing Street. Writer Jack Thorne and producer Jo Johnson, and representatives from the NSPCC and Children's Society, joined the Prime Minister for a roundtable discussion. The TV drama, which examines so-called incel (involuntary celibate) culture, has prompted a national conversation about online safety. Sir Keir said he and his wife had watched it with his 14-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son, and that 'as a dad, I have not found it easy viewing'. The drama centres around a teenage boy who is accused of killing a girl from his school. Sir Keir referred to real-life cases such as that of Kyle Clifford, the crossbow killer who watched misogynistic content before he murdered his ex-girlfriend and her mother and sister. This type of violence against women 'isn't new', the Prime Minister said. 'It's pernicious and persistent. But what Adolescence shows is that it's now taken on a different form, or different characteristics.' He said the online world and social media means 'ideology' can be 'pumped directly into the minds of our children'. The show shines a light on issues that people do not know how to respond to, he said. There may not be a single response or 'policy lever to be pulled' to adequately address the issue, he said. 'It's actually much bigger than that, almost a cultural issue, the devastating effect of misogyny on our society.' There is also a sense that there is no 'safe space' for children when they can access content whether they are in the home or outside it, he said. 'And I do think there is a sense of isolation going on here, and therefore we can't deal with these challenges just with the old tools that we have. I don't think there's a simple solution.' It comes as a survey suggested three quarters of parents are concerned about what their children are seeing, hearing or doing online, with 87% saying they are not confident they know what content is being viewed. The exclusive snapshot survey of 622 British parents of five to 16-year-olds by Ipsos for the PA news agency showed 65% said their child has a screen with access to the internet in their bedroom. The proportion rose to 78% for parents with a child aged between 11 and 16. Most parents (about 80%) said they think children should be at least 11 years old before getting a smartphone for their own personal use, and more than half (54%) said they would support a complete ban on smartphones in schools. In the TV drama, This Is England star Stephen Graham plays Eddie Miller, the father of 13-year-old Jamie, played by newcomer Owen Cooper, who sees armed police burst into his home to arrest his son.
