We must do more for child victims of modern slavery

As many of us celebrate the festive season with our families at home, there are many whose holidays will be blighted by the pain and trauma of having a child who has been exploited or trafficked. This may not seem like something that happens in the UK in 2023, but the number of children referred to as potential modern slavery victims is increasing every year.

Children now make up more than 40 per cent of the total figures of those identified as potential victims of modern slavery in this country. Every child behind that number deserves to be in a loving home with people who care for them. I know so many professionals are working tirelessly for these children, and to help their families too – to make sure they have somewhere safe to sleep, far away from the fear of violence and exploitation.

It is not a coincidence that the numbers have skyrocketed recently. Many vulnerable children were left unprotected during the Covid pandemic, putting them at risk of being groomed into criminal and sexual exploitation. Since the pandemic, there continue to be huge numbers of children missing from school, with over 1.8 million persistently absent. Where are those children? They are sitting targets for exploiters.

Across the country, from Devon to Dundee, many British children are being used by gangs to transport drugs and money to and from busy cities like London and Birmingham to quieter coastal and rural areas. Criminals often exploit children trafficked to this country to grow cannabis. And there are stories from social workers of unaccompanied children seeking asylum, who have often faced horrific journeys, being picked up from hotels by traffickers.

The criminal gangs exploiting these children must be brought to justice. And every single child and young person must be provided with the right support to meet their individual needs.

No child should fall through the gaps. A pilot programme is taking place for child victims of modern slavery, giving some local authorities and safeguarding partners the ability to identify and support child victims more quickly than the Home Office. This multi-agency work, undertaken by professionals who know the child and can understand their unique needs, is the right approach and we should look towards expanding it across all local authorities.

There is also excellent support in place for child victims of trafficking. The charity Barnardo’s provides child trafficking victims with an independent guardian to ensure the child’s individual needs are being met. They help young victims cope with the practical and emotional traumas of being trafficked. Their specialist support workers build trust with the children, and explain the support services available to them in a way that they can understand. This level of care is crucial to help child victims recover from their trauma and rebuild their lives.

These guardians are currently only available in two-thirds of the country. There should not be a postcode lottery for child victims to get support. The government must deliver on its commitment to roll the programme out nationwide. As we see the number of child victims of modern slavery increase, we must do more to support them.

At this time of year, my thoughts are with these children and their families. My wish is for nobody to be exploited. And to the many children for whom that is a reality this Christmas, my wish is that each of them receives the support, care, and love that they deserve. As the independent anti-slavery commissioner, I will be advocating for all your needs.

Eleanor Lyons is the government’s independent anti-slavery commissioner