Criminal exploitation and vulnerability in drug markets: A six-nation comparison of its recognition in international policy discourses and criminal justice systems

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dc.contributor.authorSøgaard, Thomas Friis
dc.contributor.authorAndell, Paul
dc.contributor.authorCoomber, Ross
dc.contributor.authorChomczyński, Piotr
dc.contributor.authorBowden, Matt
dc.contributor.authorGundhus, Helene Oppen Ingebrigtsen
dc.contributor.authorFrąckowiak, Przemysław
dc.contributor.authorSzykut, Michał
dc.contributor.authorTollin, Katharina
dc.contributor.authorWindle, James
dc.contributor.authorLöfstrand, Cecilia Hansen
dc.contributor.authorSeal, Mike
dc.date.accessioned2026-03-25T16:50:04Z
dc.date.available2026-03-25T16:50:04Z
dc.date.issued2026-03-22
dc.description© 2026, the Author(s).
dc.description.abstractIn the UK, the recent ‘turn to vulnerability’ in safeguarding and the criminal justice system has meant an increasing recognition that many children and vulnerable adults committing crimes, such as drug dealing, are in fact victims of criminal exploitation involving manipulation and coercion. This recognition is fairly recent, and the visibility of exploited children and adults is impacting how they are dealt with and safeguarded. In other parts of Europe, there is also burgeoning recognition of drug market-related criminal exploitation (DMCE) manifesting in various forms. In most European states, DMCE is, however, as of yet, not as ‘visible’ or as accommodated by the criminal justice and safeguarding systems that process exploited children and adults, and still often see these as criminals first and exploited second. Drawing on an international research network, we provide the first assessment of DMCE as an internationally relevant concept and how DMCE victims are situated across various spaces. Data derives from a comparative research project conducted in Denmark, the Republic of Ireland, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the UK supported by expert reflection on research evidence and analysis of criminal justice processing, policy documents and media reporting in each context. Findings show that DMCE is present in all contexts, that its degree of socio-legal visibility varies and that ‘offender’ versus ‘victim’ narratives continue to dominate the extent to which DMCE victims are accommodated as such.en
dc.format.extent22
dc.format.extent430382
dc.identifier.authororcidSøgaard, Thomas Friis
dc.identifier.authororcidAndell, Paul
dc.identifier.authororcidCoomber, Ross
dc.identifier.authororcidChomczyński, Piotr
dc.identifier.authororcidBowden, Matt
dc.identifier.authororcidGundhus, Helene Oppen Ingebrigtsen
dc.identifier.authororcidFrąckowiak, Przemysław
dc.identifier.authororcidSzykut, Michał
dc.identifier.authororcidTollin, Katharina
dc.identifier.authororcidWindle, James§0000-0001-8367-2926
dc.identifier.authororcidLöfstrand, Cecilia Hansen
dc.identifier.authororcidSeal, Mike
dc.identifier.citationSøgaard, T F, Andell, P, Coomber, R, Chomczyński, P, Bowden, M, Gundhus, H O I, Frąckowiak, P, Szykut, M, Tollin, K, Windle, J, Löfstrand, C H & Seal, M 2026, 'Criminal exploitation and vulnerability in drug markets: A six-nation comparison of its recognition in international policy discourses and criminal justice systems', European Journal of Criminology, pp. 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1177/14773708261427649
dc.identifier.doi10.1177/14773708261427649
dc.identifier.endpage22
dc.identifier.issn1477-3708
dc.identifier.journaltitleEuropean Journal of Criminology
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0001-8367-2926/work/209324362
dc.identifier.startpage1
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/18663
dc.language.isoeng
dc.subjectSDG 1 - No Poverty
dc.subjectSDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
dc.subjectDrug markets
dc.subjectEurope
dc.subjectCriminal justice
dc.subjectPolicy framing
dc.subjectExploitation
dc.subject[SocialStudies]
dc.titleCriminal exploitation and vulnerability in drug markets: A six-nation comparison of its recognition in international policy discourses and criminal justice systemsen
dc.typeArticle (Peer reviewed)
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