Forced Labour

Scenario 3 – CAR WASH
 

Forced labour, also known as labour trafficking, is currently the most common and prevalent form of exploitation in the UK. It takes place when a person uses force or physical threats, psychological coercion, abuse of the legal process, deception, or other coercive means to compel someone to work. Forced labour often occurs when the formal sector meets the informal, hidden economy. Car washes, for example, are recognised and established industries yet they allow for informal, unofficial, and casual practises to easily take place. i.e. cash in hand.

Child Exploitation

Scenario 4 – ONLINE CHILD EXPLOITATION
 

Indicators

• Excessive use of mobile phone, gaming console or other electronic device.
• Displaying secretive behaviour when asked what he/she is doing.
• Leaving home without explanation and goes ‘missing’ for periods of time or regularly returns home late.
• Skips school or starts being disruptive in class.
• Appearing with unexplained gifts/possessions which cannot be accounted for.
• Child has lots of new phone numbers, texts or email addresses.
• Excessive receipt of texts/calls.
• Breakdown of relationships - isolated from peers/friends and not mixing with usual friends - becoming estranged from family/friends.
• Signs of unexplained physical harm.
• Changed physical appearance - lost weight, wearing more/less makeup.
• Problems sleeping or eating (demonstrating anxiety).
• Appears upset or withdrawn after using the internet or texting.
• Changes in temperament - starts to become moody, aggressive or withdrawn.

Forced Labour

Scenario 5 – FORCED CONSTRUCTION LABOUR
 

Indicators

• Working excessively long hours.
• Unable to leave their work environment at will.
• Unpaid or underpaid.
• Acting wholly under instructions from another person
• Works full days without any break.
• Limited access to funds or funds held by someone else.
• Has few personal possessions.
• Poor or substandard living conditions.
• Resides in same place that they work.
• Have no labour contract.
• Dependant on employer for numerous services including accommodation and transportation.
• Subject to physical and/or emotional harm.
• Recruitment through false pretences.  
• Exhibits anxious, submissive or depressive behaviours.

Online Child Sexual Exploitation

Scenario 7 – SEEN
 

Meet Lily –

She's fourteen, easy to overlook. Just a tree in the school play, not the lead. When she posts a video about her small moment onstage it barely gets a glance. Almost no one notices. Except one account — a cute boy who comments like he really sees her, who pays attention when no one else did. It feels like proof she matters. She starts reshaping herself to keep his attention — braver, older — the lines moving a little at a time, not by force but by reassurance that feels like care.

Online Child Sexual Exploitation –

Online child sexual exploitation consists of many forms of exploitation against children online, including persuading a minor (someone under the age of 18) to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM). CSAM is sexually explicit content involving a child including photos, videos, or digitally created images that depict the sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor. Often offenders will manipulate the child to engage in such conduct by first building an emotional connection and relationship to gain trust, with the ultimate goal of sexual exploitation.

Characteristics of a Suspicious Person –

• An offender is typically male but may often pose as a female
• Often pretends to be younger than their actual age
• Uses multiple online identities
• Targets multiple children on one, or multiple platforms
• Develops relationship by the use of praise, compliments, shared interests (often falsified), acting empathetically
• Seeks out children who may be struggling with real-life issues - social acceptance, friendships, attention, success at school, boredom – and aims to be the online "solution"
• Establishes a relationship of trust and dependence whether platonic or romantic
• Threatens to publish acquired inappropriate content online
• Threatens to share sexually explicit conversations with the victim online
• Threatens to reveal images, videos or conversations to family/friends if the child does not comply
• Secretly records sexually explicit videos of the child
• Threatens to hurt or sexually assault the child or family members
• Offers presents or rewards as an incentive for the child to send sexually explicit material
• Offender's objective is to gather content, to elicit sexual contact or for financial gain

Potential Warning Signs that a Child is Being Exploited Online –

• Experiencing a breakdown in relationships—isolating from peers or family, or withdrawing from usual social circles.
• Changes in physical appearance, such as sudden weight loss or alterations in makeup or clothing choices.
• Showing up with gifts or possessions that can't be explained.
• Becoming upset, withdrawn, or anxious after using the internet or texting.
• Shifting temperament - becoming moody, aggressive, or withdrawn.
• Accumulating numerous new phone numbers, or email addresses.
• They exhibit secretive behaviour, especially when asked about their activities.
• Receiving excessive texts or calls.
• Excessive time on mobile phones, gaming consoles, or other electronic devices.
• Leaving home without explanation or frequently returning home late.
• Struggling with sleep or eating habits, showing signs of anxiety.
• Skipping school or becoming disruptive in class.

*While no single indicator confirms the existence of online child sexual exploitation, several indicators combined can increase the likelihood that a child is being exploited.