Figures show rise in sexual and criminal exploitation under lockdown Criminal and sexual exploitation has risen ‘dramatically’ during the pandemic, new data has warned today. New figures from Unseen's Helpline reveal that reports of criminal exploitation have increased by 42% in the past year, with reports of sexual exploitation up 25% on the previous year. The 2020 assessment shows a quarter of potential victims of sexual exploitation were children, while minors accounted for a fifth of potential victims of criminal exploitation. Justine Currell, executive director of Unseen and co-author of the assessment: ‘A year on from the first lockdown, the number of reports relating to sexual and criminal exploitation, and those involving children, is particularly alarming, given that overall contacts to the Helpline decreased during the pandemic.