Child Victims of Trafficking
Please read "Working Together to Safeguard Children" page 209 to 210 for definitions of trafficking and its effects.
All cases of suspected trafficking must to be referred to the Helpdesk phone 01952 385700 or if out of normal office hours, to the Emergency Duty Team phone 01952 676500. Please remember that trafficking can take place within this country. A Guidance document has been agreed between the West Midlands Consortium and this provides procedural guidance which is to be implemented. The document is filed in the document library of these procedures.
As with any circumstances where there is reason to believe that at child may be at risk of significant harm, child protection processes will be followed, including using police powers to ensure immediate safety if necessary.
The “Trafficking Toolkit” available from www.crimereduction.gov.uk/toolkits provides helpful guidance.
The toolkit notes that ‘trafficked’ children may enter the country apparently as unaccompanied asylum seeking children; as students (including language students) or with adults who claim to be relatives.
If any professional is in any doubt about the relationship between the adult and the child, they must seek advice as above.
There is a raft of criminal offences associated with trafficking including:
- trafficking for prostitution,
- trafficking for a sexual offence,
- the commercial exploitation of children by buying the sexual services of a child, causing or inciting, arranging or facilitating and controlling the commercial exploitation of a child in prostitution or pornography
- trafficking for exploitation e.g. forced labour or removal of organs