Synopsis
Recognise criminal, sexual, labour and online exploitation, understand coercion and trafficking indicators, treat immediate health needs, hear the child without blame, preserve digital and forensic opportunities and coordinate statutory protection including the National Referral Mechanism.
- Assume no child can consent to their own exploitation, even when they receive money, defend an exploiter or commit an offence.
- See the child alone with a professional interpreter, check accompanying adults and avoid using a companion as translator.
- Treat injury, overdose, sexual assault, strangulation and suicidal crisis urgently while establishing a safe supervised environment.
- Ask about missing episodes, travel, work, debt, gifts, drugs, weapons, sexual activity, devices, threats and freedom to leave.
- Do not confiscate, reset or search a device casually; follow police advice to preserve evidence and prevent unsafe notifications.
- Refer safeguarding concern to children's social care and police, using contextual information about locations, peers, adults and networks.
- A recognised first-responder organisation refers a child who may be trafficked into the National Referral Mechanism; protection does not wait for its decision.
- Plan safe housing, communication, healthcare, education and ongoing relational support because separation alone rarely removes coercive control.
Key red flags
Repeated missing episodes, unexplained travel, hotel use, unknown vehicles, new older associates or abrupt changes in peer group can indicate exploitation networks.
Unexplained cash, phones, clothing, food, accommodation or drugs may represent grooming, exchange, debt or control rather than free benefit.
Multiple sexual partners, sexually transmitted infection, pregnancy, injuries, image-based threats or adults controlling appointments requires assessment without blaming the child.
Possession of drugs or weapons, injuries from violence, fear of police, unexplained debt or offending across locations can reflect criminal exploitation.
A child working excessive hours, living where they work, lacking documents, having restricted movement or giving a rehearsed account may be trafficked or enslaved.
Online grooming, coerced images, livestreaming, deepfake sexual material, account takeover and threats to share content can sustain abuse across physical boundaries.
Investigation priorities
Establish safety, coercion, movement, health needs and the child's priorities.
Management branches
The child is injured, intoxicated, threatened or accompanied by a controlling person.
- Move the child to a safe private area with appropriate supervision.
- Treat urgent injury, poisoning, sexual-health and mental-health needs.
- Confirm identity and do not release to an unverified accompanying adult.
- Contact children's social care and police through emergency routes.