Child Trafficking

The trafficking of children and young people into the UK is an increasing phenomenon.  Child Trafficking is the movement and exploitation of children. Children may find themselves forced into prostitution, drug smuggling, domestic slavery, criminal activity, street begging, exploitative labour or they may be exploited for benefit fraud or adoption.  Many of these children come from West Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia, often lured away by promises of jobs and a better life but with no idea of what awaits them.

All children from overseas who come to the attention of social services may be trafficked.

To read our latest Evaluation report on our Trafficking Training Project that took place in 26 local authorities across London prior to the Olympics please click here

CFAB and Ineqe are delighted to introduce a new online Child Trafficking Training Course. This online training course is free and available to use now. It has been funded by Comic Relief. It has been developed by CFAB in conjunction with INEQE and the Counter Human Trafficking Bureau

This training module is intended for all staff who may come across trafficked children. It is designed for Social Workers, Police Officers, Teachers, School Support Staff, Housing Officers, Health Staff, Early Years Workers and NGO Staff.  To help reach as many people as possible simply forward this web page and links to as many of your staff team, colleagues and partners as possible.

This 'web app' has been designed for use on multiple platforms and consists of three modules, a reference page and tests.  This link will take you direct to the Child Trafficking - Basics Course.  However for a short demonstration on how to get the most from the course please click here first.

In 2011 20 cases were referred to CFAB relating to a child trafficked into the UK, referred from 15 local authorities, involving 10 countries, as a result CFAB helped to safeguard 60 children   

CFAB completed a Trafficking Training Evaluation Report on the training that took place in 26 local authorities across London prior to the Olympics.  To read the full report please click here

A 16 year old girl named Crina was trafficked from Romania through Italy to the UK. She was groomed to go abroad with the promise of getting married. Initially Crina was taken to Italy and later to the UK being forced into prostitution in both countries. 

In the UK Crina managed to run away and was picked up by the police. The police referred her to Portsmouth Children's Services and Crina was placed in foster care. Crina constantly told the Children's Services that she wanted to return to her mother in Romania. 

Portsmouth called CFAB's Advice Line. CFAB advised that with the assistance of our Romanian correspondent appropriate checks would need to be carried out to see if Crina‟s mother had been complicit in her trafficking, and thus potentially being put at risk of re-trafficking. 

Working with CFAB, Crina was able to provide an address for the mother, but did not have a phone number since the pimp had taken away Crina's mobile.

CFAB is very grateful to Comic Relief for their support in this area of work.