ALL IN A DAY’S WORK
CHILD EXPLOITATION CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE #LOOKCLOSER
The taxi and private hire industry has a vital role to play in protecting children from the horrifying abuse of child sexual and criminal exploitation, taking places in cities and towns across the UK. Here experts from The Children’s Society explain how drivers and firms can get involved in its #LookCloser campaign.
Thousands of children all over the country are being exploited every day – some by predators who groom and sexually exploit children, others by criminal operations who manipulate or force them to carry out a wide range of criminal acts and so called ‘county lines’ drug dealing.
Exploitation begins with perpetrators grooming children and young people with offers of drugs and alcohol or promises of love, belonging, status and money. Once they are reeled in, these perpetrators then use threats, violence and sexual abuse to make sure children do as their abusers want.
As we see through our work with victims and police, any child or young person from any community can be vulnerable to being groomed, exploited and abused. That includes children from more affluent backgrounds. Children may go missing for days even weeks at a time as they are often sent to deal the drugs many miles from home. They are expected to take calls from customers on the ‘burner’ phone lines that give the illicit trade its name and to stay in filthy ‘trap houses’. This is often the home of a vulnerable young person or adult which has been taken over by an organised crime group.
The experience can be hugely traumatic and downright dangerous for children. Some tragically lose their lives. In working on preventing child exploitation we hear from people all too often that they weren’t sure of what they saw, or didn’t see enough. But what you see or hear could be that missing piece of the puzzle that the police need to stop criminals – and to protect children.
That’s where The Children’s Society’s Look Closer campaign comes in. Run by the national charity’s Prevention programme in partnership with the National County Lines Coordination Centre and police forces including the British Transport Police. The campaign urges anyone who encounters children in their daily lives to report any concerns that a child might be being exploited to the police so they can investigate.
It works on the principle that it is better to report a concern which proves to be unfounded than to say nothing and potentially miss a golden opportunity to help a vulnerable child. What you see and report could be a crucial first step
86
in helping a child escape horrific abuse and trauma. Taxi and private hire drivers have more opportunity to spot and help stop child exploitation than many other professions. Intelligence tells us that organised criminals are using taxis and other PHVs to move children around the country to deal drugs and be sexually abused. Indeed, their use may have increased during successive lockdowns at a time when young people may have been more visible on quieter trains.
Not only are taxis less visible to police, criminals think that drivers won’t pay attention to their conversations or passengers, where they are going or who they are with, and even if they do drivers won’t report concerns. They think the privacy of taxis journeys can hide their crime. Let’s prove them wrong.
Here are some signs that you can look out for, is the child or young person: • Travelling alone? Unfamiliar with the local area? • Travelling at unusual hours (during school time, early in the morning, or late at night?
• Travelling to multiple destinations in one day or night? • Travelling long distances and paying for a journey that is expensive and unrealistic for a young person to afford?
• Paying for journeys in cash or prepaid? Carrying lots of cash? • Accompanied by individuals who are older than them? • Anxious, frightened, angry, showing signs of neglect or displaying other behaviour that makes you worried? • Using words describing criminal or sexual activity?
It’s really important to remember that children who have been groomed by these criminals may not recognise that they are being exploited and may not act in ways you expect a victim should. They may seem confident or behave in an angry and aggressive way which you may think means they are choosing their actions, but in reality they are being controlled and used by organised criminals. Hidden behind what you see is a life of threats, abuse and unimaginable trauma.
Whatever the reason, if you see or hear something that doesn’t feel right, it’s always best to contact the police. You don’t need to know for certain that exploitation lies behind your worries. It is enough to be concerned that this is a possibility.
You should report any concerns to the police on 101 or dial 999 if there is an immediate risk to a child. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
For more information about the Look Closer campaign visit:
www.childrenssociety.org.uk/lookcloser.
JUNE 2021
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100
