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.

For the CSCP Trafficked Children policy please click here

Child Trafficking Advocacy Project

Barnardo's Independent Child Trafficking Advocacy Projectthis external link will open in a new window - this 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.  Independent Child Trafficking Advocatesthis external link will open in a new window (pdf)

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.  Statutory Guidance Document Modern Slavery Act 2015 (updated March 2020)this external link will open in a new window

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.

Resources for Professionals 

Resource Sheet : Child trafficking and modern slavery

National Hotlinesthis external link will open in a new window

Resources for parents/carers

The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) 'a guide for parents'this external link will open in a new window - the NRM is a framework for identifying victims of human trafficking and Modern Slavery

Useful links

Gov.UK - Collections/Modern Slaverythis external link will open in a new window

Modern Slavery - Cumbria Police

Unseen UKthis external link will open in a new window

NSPCC Child Trafficking Advice Centrethis external link will open in a new window

The Salvation Armythis external link will open in a new window

Migrant Helpthis external link will open in a new window

Kalayaanthis external link will open in a new window

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. Modern Slavery Guidancethis external link will open in a new window

The Trauma-Informed Code of Conduct 

The Helen Bamber Foundation has published 'The Trauma-Informed Code of Conduct'this external link will open in a new window for all Professionals working with survivors of Human Trafficking and Slavery

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