Child Trafficking

Definition

Child trafficking is the process whereby children are recruited, moved, or transported and then exploited, forced to work, or sold. This movement could be for the purposes of child sexual or criminal exploitation, forced marriage, domestic servitude, or forced labour. Children may be trafficked from outside the UK (e.g. bringing a child to the UK to work on a cannabis farm) or internally, as in the case of County Lines drug dealing.

Signs and indicators

The following signs and indicators come from the NSPCC website:

Signs that a child has been trafficked may not be obvious but you might notice unusual behaviour or events. These include a child who:

  • Spends a lot of time doing household chores;

  • Rarely leaves their house, has no freedom of movement and no time for playing;

  • Rs orphaned or living apart from their family, often in unregulated private foster care;

  • Lives in substandard accommodation;

  • Isn't sure which country, city or town they're in;

  • Is unable or reluctant to give details of accommodation or personal details;

  • Might not be registered with a school or a GP practice;

  • Has no documents or has falsified documents;

  • Has no access to their parents or guardians;

  • Is seen in inappropriate places such as brothels or factories;

  • Possesses unaccounted for money or goods;

  • Is permanently deprived of a large part of their earnings, required to earn a minimum amount of money every day or pay off an exorbitant debt;

  • Has injuries from workplace accidents;

  • Gives a prepared story which is very similar to stories given by other children.

Links for further information