Child trafficking

Trafficked children are tricked, enticed or forced into leaving their homes by someone arranging their relocation. On arrival at their destination, they are forced to work for the traffickers, or passed or sold to others. Trafficked children are often controlled or kept captive through violence, threats and coercion.

It can be difficult to identify trafficked children, but you may notice unusual behaviour or events that just don’t add up. If you do, get some advice.

The motivation for organised gangs or individuals who traffic children is usually money. Trafficked children are used for purposes including:

• prostitution
• exploitative factory or agricultural work
• criminal activities, especially in the drugs trade
• credit card or benefit fraud
• illegal adoption
• domestic servitude or servile marriages.

Such children may come from within or outside of the UK. There may be factors in a child’s place of origin which made them more vulnerable to trafficking, such as poverty and discrimination. Also, a victim may be lured by the promise of education or respectable work, or a parent persuaded that their child can have a better future in another place.

Trafficked children are vulnerable to all the effects associated with abuse and neglect, but in particular the effects may include:

• physical beatings
• drug or alcohol addictions
• health problems brought on by poor working conditions
• STD and HIV infections from prostitution
• fear and confusion, as a result of being away from home and family
• mistrust of adults
• feelings of shame about what has happened to them
• missed education.

A trafficked child may not show any immediate signs of distress or harm, however the long-term outcomes for such children are poor. There are rarely signs that indicate for certain that a child has been trafficked, but you may notice some unusual things like a child who:

• is guarded and reluctant to talk
• performs excessive household chores and rarely leaves their house
• displays sexualised behaviour inappropriate for their age
• gets into and out of cars with unknown adults
• is constantly out late or away overnight
• receives unexplained phone calls enquiring about him or her
• does not appear to be in school
• is unclear about where in the UK they are living and how they got there.

It can be very difficult to identify a trafficked child or young person. Some may stay silent for fear of being sent home to face reprisals on themselves or their family. Some trafficked children may not be aware that they are being abused. Some young people may not consider themselves to be victims and – knowing that they are in the UK illegally – may be reluctant to talk to the authorities.

However, these children are being exploited and the long-term outcomes for them are poor. If you suspect a child may have been trafficked you should immediately contact your local social services or police. Alternatively, you can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000.

NSPCC Helpline: Advice and support for adults concerned about a child.

Police: Emergency and non-emergency police services.

CEOP: Centre dedicated to eradicating sexual abuse of children.

ECPAT UK: Campaign against child trafficking.

Reunite: Charity specialising in international parental abduction.