Commissioner backs powerful film warning young people not to get ‘Caught Up’
Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw, has supported the production and launch of a powerful new short film tackling child criminal exploitation and county lines.
Funded through his Lancashire Violence Reduction Network (LVRN), Caught Up shines a light on the realities young people face and aims to raise awareness of the dangers and consequences of exploitation. The film received £5,400 from the Violence Reduction Network and a further £3,400 from Bradley Big Local.
The film has been developed in collaboration with local young people, frontline professionals, and individuals with lived experience, ensuring it authentically reflects real stories, real challenges, and the pressures facing communities today.
The premiere took place at Nelson’s ACE Centre, bringing together more than 100 attendees, including representatives from the NHS, community partners, and local young people. The event provided an opportunity to spark important conversations and highlight the collective role organisations and communities play in preventing exploitation.
The film was commissioned by the Prosper Partnership, which brings together agencies to deliver the ‘Build’ phase of Clear, Hold, Build in Lancashire, focusing on prevention, early intervention, and community opportunity.
In Pendle, Clear, Hold, Build sees police and partners work to remove crime, maintain a visible presence, and invest in long-term support to build safer, more resilient communities.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, Clive Grunshaw, said:
“Prevention work is at the very core of my Violence Reduction Network, and this film helps educate young people at key stages of their lives to make positive choices and understand the very real dangers of exploitation. It shows just how easy it can be to become caught up in organised crime.
“While Lancashire Police continue their work through Operation Warrior to disrupt and dismantle organised crime groups, we must also ensure young people are informed and supported to stay safe.
“Through my Violence Reduction Network, I will continue to back community-led projects that are created for and by the people they are designed to reach.”
Rick Wilson, Clear, Hold, Build Constable from Lancashire Police, said:
“I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved here in Pendle. Too often we hear the stories of young people who have been exploited.
“This film speaks directly to young people across Lancashire, helping to de-glamourise drug culture and challenge the appeal of organised crime. I’d like to thank everyone involved in bringing it to life, including Bradley Big Local and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.”
Claire Bennett, CEO Positive Action in the Community said:
‘This has been a true partnership project in the community bringing people together to tackle one of the most life destroying and devastating things that can happen to young people. We need to prevent child criminal exploitation happening at every opportunity possible by raising awareness, educating and empowering the community to know what to do to stop it from happening and knowing who can help. This film helps to do exactly that, enabling and provoking conversations that matter and make a positive difference to young people and their families’.
The film will now be used across schools in the area to promote the dangers of exploitation and organised crime.
