Police urge commuters to #LookCloser to help spot children in trouble

The East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) together with The Children’s Society and British Transport Police (BTP) are raising awareness around the methods used in Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE), as well as how to identify victims where they are most visible.

EMSOU detective inspector Harry Dick, coordinates the police response to human trafficking across the region.

He said: “It’s not just illicit goods, like drugs and weapons, which are seen as valuable commodities by criminals.

“More and more often we are seeing children and young people being manipulated and coerced onto the path of criminality by them to do their bidding.

“But an exploited child often doesn’t see themselves as victimised and, as such, they don’t always look or act like a victim.

“Through #LookCloser we are asking the public to challenge their own perceptions and, instead of perhaps dismissing a young person as a troublemaker, take a closer look.”

British Transport Police detective inspector Thanh Ly said: “We are aware that the rail network is used by exploited young people, but they can go hidden in plain sight on public transport and we hope the #LookCloser message will go a long way in alerting fellow passengers and staff to the signs.

“Is there a young person travelling during school hours, early in the morning or late into the night? Do they look lost or disorientated between transport, appear anxious, unkempt or injured?

“Are they avoiding ticket checks or don’t have a ticket or the money to pay a fare? Are they using more than one phone, or is their phone always ringing?

“They are small, subtle signs, but put together could indicate exploitation.

“ If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Any child in any community can be vulnerable. That’s why it’s vital that anyone who encounters children is able to #LookCloser.”

If you see something that concerns you, tell security or call 101 immediately. On trains or at stations text 61016.