Child trafficking and modern slavery

Trafficked children experience multiple forms of abuse and neglect. Get advice on how to protect children from child trafficking and modern slavery.

 

Human trafficking

Although many people think of human trafficking as only affecting adults, it affects children as well.  Child trafficking is child abuse.  Children are recruited, moved or transported and then exploited, forced to work or sold.  They are often subject to multiple forms of exploitation. It is also not just about trafficking adults and children across national borders, human trafficking can take place anywhere.

Children are trafficked for:

  • child sexual exploitation
  • benefit fraud
  • forced marriage
  • domestic servitude such as cleaning, childcare, cooking
  • forced labour in factories or agriculture
  • criminal activity such as pickpocketing, begging, transporting drugs, working on cannabis farms, selling pirated DVDs and bag theft

Many children are trafficked into the UK from abroad, but children can also be trafficked from one part of the UK to another.

Read the CSCP Trafficked Children policy

Child Trafficking Advocacy Project

The Barnardo's Independent Child Trafficking Advocacy Project is a pilot for any child residing in the Greater Manchester area, irrespective of which Local Authority's care they are in (and also those children who are not in care), where there are suspicions that they are a victim of trafficking.  

Read more about National Counter Trafficking Centre (including Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship Service) (Barnardos)

Modern slavery

Modern slavery involves children who are recruited, moved or transported and then exploited and forced to work or sold.  The Modern Slavery Act 2015 provides legal protection and support to victims and covers two offences - i) human trafficking and ii) forced labour and servitude.  Read about the statutory guidance for Modern Slavery (GOV.UK)

Children do not have to prove that they have been coerced or persuaded in order to be a victim of modern slavery, i.e. a child's consent to being trafficked is irrelevant and it is not necessary to prove coercion or any other inducement for there to be an offence.  This includes their engagement in criminal activity.

Public authorities have a duty under the Act to notify the Home Office when they come across potential victims of modern slavery and people trafficking.

Modern Slavery Awareness Booklet

The Home Office has published a guidance on modern slavery to help public sector workers who may not routinely come across modern slavery to recognise the signs and respond appropriately.  The guide includes information on: legislation; the types of modern slavery; victims; and signs to look out for. 

Read or download the Modern Slavery Awareness Booklet (GOV.UK)

The Trauma-Informed Code of Conduct 

The Helen Bamber Foundation has published 'The Trauma-Informed Code of Conduct' for all professionals working with survivors of Human Trafficking and Slavery.

Read the Trauma-Informed Code of Conduct (Helen Bamber)

Resources for professionals

National hotlines

Too often, information on trafficking in human beings is targeted at professionals only, leaving those who are affected the most left out, the victims. By providing contact information to service providers and hotline numbers in the Member States, the aim is to make this information easily accessible. If you are a victim of trafficking in human beings or want to report a crime in relation to trafficking in human beings you may use one of the national hotline numbers below. You can always be anonymous.

Austria

Telephone: + 43 1-796 92 98

IBF - Intervention Centre for Victims of Trafficking in Women

Belgium

PAG-ASA
Telephone: + 32 2 511 64 64 

Payoke 
Telephone: +32 3 201 16 90 
Multilingual brochure for victims of human trafficking

Bulgaria

National Hotline for Victims of Violence( operated by Foundation “Animus Association”)
Telephone: 0800 186 76 

National Hotline for Children (operated by the State Agency for Child Protection and Foundation “Animus Association”)
Telephone: 116 111

National Human Trafficking Resource Line: (operated by A21 Bulgaria)
Telephone: 0800 20 100

Czech Republic

La Strada SOS Hotline 
Telephone: +420 222 71 71 71

Estonia

Human Trafficking Prevention and Victim Help Hotline 
Telephone: +372 6607 320 

Finland

System for victim assistance 
Telephone: +358 71 876 3170 

France

National Coordination for protection of victims of human trafficking hotline (Ac.Sé): 
Telephone: 0825 009 907

Greece

National Center for Social Solidarity (EKKA/National Referral Mechanism)
National Line for child protection: 1107 
Direct Social Aid Line: 197

General Secretariat for Gender Equality: 
SOS helpline: 15900 

Human Trafficking Resource Line (operated by Α21 Campaign): 
1109 (for international calls please call 0030-2310-019880)

Hungary

Hotline telephone number for victims of domestic violence or Trafficking (Available 24/7) in Hungary: 
Telephone: 06-80/20-55-20
Crisis Management and information hotline
Abroad: 0036 80/20-55-20

Ireland

Hotline for the confidential reporting of suspicions of trafficking:
Telephone: 1800 25 00 25
Department of Justice Ireland website

Italy

National hotline against trafficking
Telephone: 800 290 290

Latvia

Hotline against trafficking (in Latvian)
Telephone: 80002012

Lithuania

Klaipedasocial and psychological services centre 
Telephone: 8 800 6636

Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau mailbox - provides information in connection with human trafficking.
Email: prekybazmonemis@policija.lt

Luxembourg

Luxembourg national contact for expertise in the field combating and preventing trafficking in Human Beings (Police Grand-Ducale)
Telephone: +352 4997 6210
Out of hours contact: Centre d' Intervention National: +352 4997 2341

Malta

Malta Vice and Economic Crime, Police General Headquarters, contact for victims of human trafficking or reporting a crime in relation to human trafficking
Telephone: +356 2294 2000

Netherlands

CoMensha (in Dutch)
Telephone:+31 33 4481186

Poland

National Intervention and Consultation Centre for Victims of Trafficking 
Telephone: +48 22 628 01 20

Portugal

Hotline against trafficking 
Telephone: 800 202 148 

SOS Imigrante, the hotline for all migrant situations
Telephone: 808 257 257

Romania

Hotline against trafficking
Telephone: 0800 800 67

Slovakia

Slovak Crisis Center DOTYK 
Telephone: + 421 903 704 784

Slovenia

KLJUČ KEY- Society, Centre for the fight against trafficking in persons
Telephone: 080 17 22

Spain

Institut de la Femme 
Telephone: 900 191 010, 900 152 152

Sweden

National Support line, a national telephone support line for women who have been subjected to threats and violence
Telephone: 020 50 50 50 

Terrafem, a non-profit organisation that runs a national helpline for immigrant women: 
Telephone: 020 52 10 10 

Report child trafficking (in Swedish) 

For more information please visit the website of the National organisation for Women’s and Girls’ Shelters

United Kingdom

Modern Slavery Helpline operates 24/7 and is confidential:
Telephone: 08000 121 70

The hotline is is open to calls from victims, on behalf of victims, the general public, law enforcement, statutory agencies, and business. It is backed by the UK Government, Police, NCA and NGO’s and is the one number all agencies want to coalesce around. 

Report modern slavery online

South Africa

National Human Trafficking Resource Line
Telephone: 0800222777
0800222777 website

Nigeria

NAPTIP National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons
Telephone: +234 703 0000 203
National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) website

Serbia

Astra – Anti Trafficking Action
Telephone: +381 (0) 11 785 0000 
Telephone: +381 (0) 800 101 201
Anti Trafficking Action website

Resources and useful links

Safeguarding children who may have been trafficked

2011 DfE and HO practice guidance on safeguarding children who may have been trafficked – this guidance is for local authorities, to help agencies and their staff safeguard and promote the welfare of children who may have been trafficked.

Safeguarding children who may have been trafficked (GOV.UK)

Care of unaccompanied migrant children and child victims of modern slavery

2017 Statutory Guidance on the Care of Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Modern Slavery – this guidance is for local authorities and staff running local multi-agency safeguarding arrangements. It sets out the steps they should take to plan for the provision of support for looked-after children who are unaccompanied migrant children, and who may be victims, or potential victims, of modern slavery. 

Care of unaccompanied migrant children and child victims of modern slavery (GOV.UK)

Modern slavery victims: referral

2016 National Referral Mechanism: guidance for child first responders – this guidance outlines the role of a first responder, the use of children’s services and when and how to refer the child to the national referral mechanism. It also provides information on the steps after referral, including reasonable grounds tests, decisions and reviews.

Modern slavery victims: referral (GOV.UK)

The Anti-Slavery Partnership Toolkit

The Nottingham University, in partnership with the Office of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner have developed the AntiSlavery Partnership Toolkit. This toolkit is to assist organisations to work in closer partnership, promote consistency, good practice and develop resources.

The Anti-Slavery Partnership Toolkit (Nottingham University)

Tackling Modern Slavery: a council guide

The Local Government Association (LGA) and the independent anti-slavery commissioner published Modern slavery: a council guide. As well as providing an overview of modern slavery and the forms it takes, the guidance offers a detailed methodology for councils to deploy in identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery.

Council guide to tackling modern slavery (LGA)

Independent Child Trafficking Advocate guidance

This guidance supports the six areas where the Independent Child Trafficking Advocates (ICTAs) provision has been implemented. 

Interim guidance for independent child trafficking guardians (GOV.UK)

Child Exploitation Disruption Toolkit

This toolkit is aimed at frontline staff who are working to safeguard children and young people under the age of 18 from sexual and criminal exploitation. This includes law enforcement, social care, housing, education, the voluntary sector and related partner organisations. It is intended to help all safeguarding partners to understand and access existing legislative opportunities at their disposal and to target specific risks, ranging from warning notices to offence charges and care orders.

Child exploitation disruption toolkit (GOV.UK)

Modern Slavery resource page

This resource is designed to share examples of training products available to public sector professionals and other individuals that might come across victims to help raise awareness, better spot the signs and increase confidence in reporting modern slavery when potential cases are encountered.

Modern slavery training: resource page (GOV.UK)

NSPCC: Child Trafficking Advice Centre

Provides free guidance and training to professionals concerned that a child or young person has been or is about to be trafficked into or out of the UK.

Protecting children from trafficking and modern slavery (NSPCC)

Criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults: county lines

This guidance is primarily aimed at frontline staff who work with children, young people and potentially vulnerable adults. This includes professionals working in education, health, housing, benefits, law enforcement (police) and related partner organisations.

Criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults: county lines (GOV.UK)

National Crime Agency: County Lines Threat Assessment

A public facing Intelligence Assessment from January 2019 from the National Crime Agency.

County Lines (National Crime Agency)