Young teenage girl sitting on train station platform.

How to spot the signs of child exploitation

Child exploitation can take many forms. It’s everyone's role to recognise the warning signs before it's too late.

Home > How to spot the signs of child exploitation

A Guide to recognising the signs of child exploitation

Around 14,500 children are victims or at risk of criminal exploitation in the UK*.

Gangs and perpetrators target vulnerable children with threats and false promises, coercing them into dangerous, illegal activities. Together, we must protect children at risk.

Look out for these common signs of child exploitation

Missing from home, during the day or at night

Children and young people at risk often start becoming absent from education or home, and not disclosing where they’re going or have been.

Spending time in new places

If a child or young person has started spending time in new places to which they have no obvious connection, ask yourself: what is really going on?

Unexplained Injuries

Have they got cuts, bruises or burn marks that you can’t explain? Are they reluctant to seek medical attention? This could be a sign that something’s off.

Excessive online behaviour

Children and young people who are being exploited may start spending more time online and being secretive about what they’re doing on their devices. They may distance themselves from friends, family and their usual activities.

Young teenagers sitting on station stairs signs of exploitation

Change in appearance

A change in clothing, hygiene or the way they talk could suggest the influence of someone new.

Coping mechanisms

Teenagers who are dealing with exploitation may start using coping mechanisms such as alcohol, drug use or self-harm to help them cope with the stress of their situation.

Change in behaviour

Have they been secretive, aggressive, fearful or withdrawn? Displaying antisocial behaviour and distancing themselves from family and friends? Young people don’t lash out for no reason. Odds are there’s something else going on. Check in with them and remember that no matter how tough they may seem the outside, they’re still a child.

Change in friends

A sudden change in who they‘re hanging out with, including new people they’ve met online, could be a sign they’re becoming involved in something they shouldn’t be.

New possessions

Have you noticed any new expensive clothing, technology, or money? Unexplained new possessions, especially things that the child or young person would be unlikely to afford themselves, could be a sign of exploitative grooming.

If you are a young person in this situation these services can help:

The Mix

Support for under 25’s, advice, crisis messenger, peer support, counselling etc #

text ‘THEMIX’ to 85258 https://www.themix.org.uk/

Safe Call

A free, confidential and anonymous helpline and support service for young people and family members that are affected by missing, county lines and criminal exploitation.

The service also provides confidential support and advice for professionals in relation to their work with an exploited young person or family.

The service is open 9am to 11pm; 7 days a week. Tel: 116 000

https://www.missingpeople.org.uk/get-help/help-services/exploitation-and-county-lines/safecall-form-refer-yourself-or-your-child

NSPCC

Advise, reporting concerns, support for children

Tel: 0808 800 500 www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/our-services/nspcc-helpline/#contact-us

Childline

Free, private and confidential service for anyone under 19 where you can talk about anything. Whatever your worry, whenever you need help, anytime
Tel: 0800 1111 www.childline.org.uk