Vicious drug gangs are recruiting vulnerable young people into their criminal operations by targeting them online and in the street.
Merseyside Police is working in collaboration with a number of different partners to stamp out the exploitation of young people by organised crime groups (OCG). The force has warned that gang members are targeting vulnerable children both out on the streets and online, through social media platforms including Instagram and Snapchat.
Jimmy Belmar, Merseyside Police's serious and organised crime community coordinator, told the ECHO: "Anywhere where there is a sign of vulnerability, that's where our crime groups get their clutches. Young people are vulnerable by their age and by their experiences.
