Resource 10 · Print-Ready Poster
Know the Signs
Quick Reference Poster
A condensed at-a-glance reference for officers. Print at A3 for briefing room display or A4 for personal use. The guide hero and navigation are hidden when printing, only the poster appears.
CCE Signs
CSE Signs
Online Exploitation
Modern Slavery
Missing Persons
Emergency Contacts
Know the Signs: Child Exploitation and Safeguarding
The Safeguard Hub · Police Resource Pack · safeguard-hub.org/police-resources/ · Aligned with Working Together 2026 · Modern Slavery Act 2015
🔗 County Lines / CCE
- Found in another force area with no credible explanation
- Controlled drugs, cash, or multiple phones present
- Found at cuckooed address with unknown adults
- Unexplained new possessions (trainers, clothing, phone)
- Absent from school / home without explanation
- Fear-based compliance, acting on calls immediately
- References to debt owed to unknown adult
- Branding tattoo / postcode imagery on body or clothing
🔒 Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
- Relationship with older controlling partner
- Found at unknown residential address, hotel or flat
- Unexplained gifts, money, or phone gifted by adult
- Multiple adults attending welfare address
- Sexually transmitted infection in young person
- Sexualised behaviour or language beyond age
- Withdrawn / secretive about relationships
- Overnight absences, parent/carer doesn't know where
💻 Online Exploitation
- Distress around device use / hiding screen from adults
- Unknown online "friend" who sends gifts or money
- Access to explicit content not age-appropriate
- Stays up late to communicate; wakes at night
- Sudden change in online activity or platform use
- References to "game" involving sending photos
- Multiple social media accounts under different names
- Fear of device being removed or accounts deleted
⚖ Modern Slavery Indicators
- No identification documents, held by third party
- Does not know current city or address
- Signs of physical abuse, restraint, or malnutrition
- Coached / scripted responses to questions
- Found at suspected forced labour premises
- Appears fearful of adults accompanying them
- s.45 MSA 2015, child found committing offence:
- Treat as victim. Consider s.45 before charging.
🔌 Knife Crime
- Unexplained cuts, grazes, or stab wounds
- Blade or adapted weapon found on person
- Gang clothing / postcode-coded items
- Known gang social media activity (drill, scoresheets)
- Fear of travelling certain routes / postcodes
- Carrying for "protection", identifies rival threat
- Multiple phones or unexplained debt ledgers
- Associates with known high-harm Nominals
📷 Missing Persons & RTH
- 3+ episodes of going missing in rolling 12 months
- Returns having changed in appearance, mood, or speech
- Returns with new phone, clothing, or cash
- Unable to account for location while absent
- Refuses to engage with RTH interview
- Pattern of missing episodes aligns with drug delivery cycles
- LAC (Looked After Child), placing authority must be notified
- Cross-force intelligence if found OT (out of area)