Page 21 - Getting it Right for Vulnerable Children and Young People in North Ayrshire

Children and young people who are trafficked in the UK Child trafficking is first and foremost a child protection issue. If you have any concerns at all that a child or young person may have been trafficked you should follow your organisation’s child protection procedures and contact social services and the police without delay. In these circumstances it is critical not to alert the child, young person or their carer of your concerns as, in cases where the child may be trafficked, it is possible that their carer is involved in the trafficking or exploitation and seeking their consent could put the child at further risk or lead to their being moved elsewhere. Definition The formal definition of child trafficking is contained within the international document referred to as the Palermo Protocol: “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a child for the purposes of exploitation”. The Palermo Protocol establishes children as a special case and any child found to have been moved for exploitation is considered to be a victim of trafficking, whether or not they have been deceived, because it is not considered possible for children to give informed consent. Trafficking can affect children of all ages, although research indicates that the majority of victims in the UK are 12 years or older at the point of discovery. There is sometimes confusion between trafficking and people smuggling. However, there is a clear distinction. Smuggling involves the movement of people from one place to another – sometimes for a large fee – but the relationship between the person and the smuggler ends on arrival at their destination. Moreover, smuggling always crosses international borders whereas trafficking can occur within one country. Trafficking does involve the movement of people, but crucially with the intention to exploit them. In practice, the distinction between trafficking and smuggling can become blurred. For instance, there are documented cases of children and young people being abused on their journey to Scotland after paying smugglers. The United Kingdom is considered a high risk destination country for victims of human trafficking and a number of case studies and data collection exercises have documented the existence of potential child trafficking cases into and out of the country. Overview of key issues Agencies and individuals should bear in mind that it is essential to take timely and decisive action where child trafficking is suspected because of the risk of the child being moved. Agencies and / or individuals should not wait until a child discloses, agrees or perceives they have been trafficked to initiate procedures. Research to date indicates children, apart from being threatened to remain silent, often are not aware they are victims of trafficking. Getting It Right For Vulnerable Children and Young People in North Ayrshire Live V1.2 April 2014 Page No:21