Children who travel unaccompanied outside of Sutton across borders into neighbouring boroughs could be targeted by gangs for criminal exploitation, a council committee heard.

Authorities are cracking down on the issue as cases have emerged where young people are coming into contact with gang-affiliated groups.

Jonathan Williams, an assistant director in Sutton Council’s people directorate for children’s social care and safeguarding, admitted the problem is an “increasing area of work”.

However, plans and strategies are in place to help combat the problems faced early on.

The council's people committee discussed Government watchdog Ofsted’s findings after Sutton authorities were inspected over their performance in protecting vulnerable young people on September 27.

Mr Williams, who highlighted that this is “one of the most challenging aspects of children’s social care”, said the council was pleased with the findings but accepted “there is more to do”.

Ofsted urged for improvements in assessment of risk, citing that the wider context of harm in relation to gangs and criminal exploitation “is not always well understood or sufficiently considered” in safety planning.

Cllr Jenny Batt asked whether there were any gangs in Sutton, and if this was an “emerging issue”.

Mr Williams said: "Exploitation of children can happen in many forms. We actually hear from the local safeguarding children's board this morning [September 27] about a survey of children, and not only that but some incidents that involve things like knife crime.

"When children go missing and cross borders and boundaries, don't just reside in Sutton but travel to schools outside of Sutton, socialise outside of Sutton, it is inevitable that there are some associated issues that you will get with gangs such as 'county lines' - which is using children to traffic drugs across borders.

"Sutton will experience those sort of issues.

"We have got cases where there are some gang affiliations."

He insists that they must keep an "open mind" about it but there are initiatives currently ongoing in a bid to combat serious violence and knife crime.

Mr Williams added: “It is an issue, we are taking it forward, and LSCB [local safeguarding children’s board] is going to be the driving force in mobilising partnership in our response so that we can tackle it early on.”

The report by Ofsted following their focused visit to Sutton’s children’s services reads that commitment in the borough is “clear and demonstrable”.

It goes on that there have been “continued improvements” in the quality of practice for children “despite senior leadership changes”.

Cllr Marian James, the council’s people committee chair, praised the improvements and said: “The early intervention and prevention is proving to be very effective. Both councillor [Jane] Pascoe and myself were at the children's safeguarding board this morning, we have some very good examples of how early help has really contributed to the well being of the children and we were presented with some really excellent case studies."