Government guidance on child trafficking
November 2011
Guidance on tackling and responding to child trafficking for professionals in:
United KingdomEnglandNorthern IrelandScotlandWales
UK
Human trafficking: the government's strategy.
Her Majesty's Government
London: Home Office, 2011
Sets out the UK government's plans to tackle human trafficking (adults and children) and strengthen support for victims. Strategy includes an emphasis on raising awareness of child trafficking and ensuring child victims are dealt with from a safeguarding perspective instead of being unnecessarily criminalised.
The National Referral Mechanism (NRM)
NSPCC, 2011
A factsheet explaining the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the UK process for identifying and supporting victims of trafficking.
England
Safeguarding children who may have been trafficked: practice guidance (PDF).
Her Majesty's Government
[London]: Department for Education (DfE), 2011
Provides good practice guidance for agencies in England that come into contact with children who may have been trafficked. Includes sections on: the role of Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs), the roles of specific agencies and services, and the National Referral Mechanism. Supplementary to, and should be used in conjunction with, the government's statutory guidance: 'Working together to safeguard children' (2010). This updates 'Safeguarding children who may have been trafficked' (DCSF, 2007).
Northern Ireland
Working arrangements for the welfare and safeguarding of child victims of human trafficking (PDF).
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Northern Ireland (DHSSPS) and Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), 2011
Guidance on child trafficking for practitioners in social care, education, immigration, health and law enforcement in Northern Ireland. The report details the roles of different agencies, procedures for professionals, and also looks at the National Referral Mechanism and decision-making process. This guidance replaces the 'Pentameter 2 protocol in respect of child victims of trafficking' (DHSSPSNI in October 2007).
Scotland
Safeguarding children in Scotland who may have been trafficked (PDF).
Scottish Government, 2009
Guidance on child trafficking for practitioners in social care, education, immigration, health and law enforcement in Scotland. The report identifies the reasons for, and methods used in, trafficking as well as the roles of different agencies and procedures for professionals. Adapted from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) guidance from 2007.
Wales
All Wales practice guidance for safeguarding children who may have been trafficked (PDF).
All Wales Child Protection Procedures Review Group, 2011
Guidance on child trafficking for practitioners in social care, education, immigration, health and law enforcement in Wales. The report identifies the reasons for, and methods used in, trafficking as well as the roles of different agencies and procedures for professionals. Reproduced from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) guidance from 2007.
Further reading
Child trafficking homepageNSPCC
What is the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings?NSPCC factsheet
Child sexual exploitation homepageNSPCC
Contact the NSPCC Information Service for more information on child trafficking guidance or any child protection topic
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