Know the Signs — Child Exploitation & 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- Withdrawn / secretive about relationships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)