Exploitation - Print version

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Child exploitation

The following pages provide information, resources and support on the different forms of Child Exploitation. Further information can be found on the Children's Social Care pages [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/childrens-social-care/child-sexual-exploitation-cse].

The Home Office defines Child Criminal Exploitation as:

"Child Criminal Exploitation... occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18. The victim may have been criminally exploited even if the activity appears consensual. Child Criminal Exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology. Criminal exploitation of children... includes for instance children forced to work on cannabis farms or to commit theft."

All agencies across Coventry are committed to safeguarding children and young people from being exploited. Some common forms of child exploitation include sexual (CSE), child trafficking, modern slavery, radicalisation and violent extremism and criminal exploitation (for example County Lines).

Young people may be exploited into criminal activity or violence by other young people or by adults. Child exploitation occurs across all communities and whilst some young people may have extra additional vulnerabilities or protective factors, no child is immune to possible attempts to exploit them.

Any sudden changes in a young person's lifestyle should be discussed with them, and the following signs may be a cause for concern:

  • Persistently going missing from school or home and/or being found out-of-area
  • Unexplained acquisition of money or possessions e.g. mobile phone, clothes/trainers
  • Excessive receipt of phone calls or messages
  • Relationship with older /controlling individuals or groups
  • Leaving home/care without explanation
  • Suspicion of physical assault or unexplained injuries
  • Parent concerns
  • Carrying weapons
  • Significant decline in school results, attendance or performance
  • Gang association or isolation from peers or social networks
  • Self-harm or significant changes in emotional well-being
  • Use of new/inappropriate language or words

If you would like more information or resources on different types of Child Exploitation please refer to our specific sections, and visit the Horizon Team's exploitation pages [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/37/childrens_social_care/2415/child_exploitation]. However, the arena of Child Exploitation is constantly evolving and changing, if you have a concern please see the contact details below to discuss a specific case.

If you think a child is in immediate danger always call the emergency services on 999.

To discuss a non-emergency matter with the Police call 101.

If you are concerned that a child or young person is being harmed or is at risk of harm, but there is no immediate danger, or you need advice or information, please call Coventry Children's Social Care at the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 024 7678 8555.

Out of office hours please call the Emergency Duty Social Worker on 024 7683 2222.

Exploitation Screening Toolkit

Please take a moment to view our short video clip below about how to use the Exploitation Screening Toolkit. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i3asGaizl0]

Further information and resources

Trauma resources

Child Criminal Exploitation

Alfie's Story parts 1 & 2

Child Sexual Exploitation

  • Video about Consent - Tea and Consent

Coventry Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP)

This team cannot take calls related to individual children or families. To discuss an individual or a case please call Coventry Children’s Social Care at the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 024 7678 8555.

Telephone: 024 7697 5477 [tel:02476975477]

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

Child Sexual Exploitation is sexual abuse of children and young people under the age of 18. It includes exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where an individual or group receives something wanted or needed (such as gifts, money, drugs, accommodation, alcohol, status and affection) in exchange for giving or receiving sexual activities.

CSE can also occur through the use of technology without the child’s consent or immediate recognition, for example sending sexual images on a mobile phone or posting sexual images on the internet without immediate payment or gain.

The perpetrators exploiting the child usually have power over the child by virtue of their age, intellect, gender, physical strength or their economic status. Violence, coercion and intimidation are common in cases of CSE as many perpetrators target children with vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities can be complex and varied but are usually economic or personal circumstances that leave a child with limited choices.

Children of any gender can be sexually exploited and may not be aware that they are being exploited, so cannot protect themselves and the sexual activity may appear consensual, at first. The child may trust the perpetrator and not understand that they are being abused. The child will initially feel they are in a positive and rewarding relationship with the perpetrator. 

Indicators

The following risk factors might increase the likelihood of a young person being sexually exploited:

  • Going missing for periods of time, regularly returning home late or staying out overnight
  • Regularly missing school or not taking part in education.
  • Appearing with unexplained gifts, money or possessions.
  • Associating with other young people involved in exploitation.
  • Being in a controlling relationship or having an older boyfriend or girlfriend
  • Having a new group of friends
  • Suffering from sexually transmitted infections.
  • Uncharacteristic and significant mood swings or changes in emotional wellbeing.
  • Drug and alcohol misuse.
  • Spending time in CSE hotspots.
  • Being secretive.
  • Changes in behaviour.
  • Self-harming.
  • Suspected pregnancies.
  • Displaying unhealthy or inappropriate sexualised behaviour or language.
  • Use of mobile phone and internet that causes concern.
  • Involved with or linked to gang activity.
  • Being frightened of certain people, places or situations.
  • Physical signs of abuse, such as bruising or bleeding in the genital or anal area
  • Involved in a gang
  • Involve in criminal activities such as shoplifting or selling drugs

Resources and further information

CSE can involve elements of grooming. For some common grooming models see the PACE website. [https://paceuk.info/child-sexual-exploitation/the-grooming-process-in-the-spotlight/]

The Children's Society

NSPCC

What is child sexual exploitation [https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/child-sexual-exploitation/]

Barnados

Coventry Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP)

This team cannot take calls related to individual children or families. To discuss an individual or a case please call Coventry Children’s Social Care at the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 024 7678 8555.

Telephone: 024 7697 5477 [tel:02476975477]

Child Criminal Exploitation - County Lines

County Lines is a term used to describe the process where gangs or organised criminal networks move illegal drugs from an urban hub location out into other towns, rural and coastal areas. This frequently involves exploiting children to courier drugs and money between different locations. The activity is co-ordinated by the use of mobile phones (the phone lines are the ‘county lines’) and can heavily feature violence, intimidation and coercion to maintain control of the exploited children.  

The National Crime agency defines County Lines as the following: 

County lines relates to the supply of class A drugs (primarily crack cocaine and heroin) from an urban hub into rural towns or county locations. This is facilitated by a group who may not necessarily be affiliated as a gang, but who have developed networks across geographical boundaries to access and exploit existing drugs markets in these areas 

The exploitation of young and vulnerable persons is a common feature in the facilitation of county lines drugs supply, whether for the storage or supply of drugs, the movement of cash, or to secure the use of dwellings held by vulnerable people in the rural marketplace (commonly referred to as cuckooing). 

County lines groups use high levels of violence and intimidation to establish and maintain markets, whether that’s forcing existing suppliers out, as a means to enact some form of retribution, controlling vulnerable individuals or as a general show of strength. Levels of violence vary considerably but it often includes the use of knives, corrosives, firearms and other weapons. 

(County Lines, Violence, Exploitation and Drug Supply National Crime Agency 2017 [https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/who-we-are/publications/234-county-lines-violen-ce-exploitation-drug-supply-2017/file].)

What are the signs?

This is not an exhaustive list, but some common indicators are: 

  • Going missing from home or school
  • Suddenly having lots of money, new possessions, new clothes or trainers that they cannot account for
  • Receiving more calls/texts than usual
  • Being very protective of their mobile phone or having multiple phones or SIM cards
  • Using new language, words or hand signs you wouldn’t expect them to know
  • Changing their appearance, e.g. dressing in a particular way or style, use of particular colours
  • Being scared, aggressive, distant or angry
  • Talking about an individual or group who has a lot of influence over them
  • Hanging around with individuals or groups that are older than them and breaking ties with old friends
  • Dropping out of positive activities and hobbies
  • Unexplained physical injuries and/or refusal to seek or accept medical treatment
  • Travelling alone to places far from home or being found by services out of area
  • Carrying drugs, large amounts of money or weapons
  • Self-harming and substance misuse issues 

It’s important to note that the young people themselves may not see themselves as victims: they may see their situation as consensual and their choice. However, children cannot consent to their own exploitation. Please see the ‘Resources’ section at the bottom to find out more about the language professionals should use (and not use) within this context.

Children as young as 7 can be recruited and nobody really knows how many children across the country are being forced to take part in County Lines activity. Sadly, children exploited through County Lines can be treated as criminals themselves rather than as victims of trafficking and exploitation. Exploited children do not fit any particular demographic; criminals recruit both males and females and any ethnicity or nationality.

Criminals may deliberately target young people if they appear to have additional vulnerabilities such as having learning difficulties, experiencing the breakdown of family, struggling at school, living in care homes/being a Looked After Child or experiencing deprivation or poverty at home.

Criminals then groom children into trafficking their drugs with promises of money, status, protection, friendships or relationships. Once the children are drawn in they are controlled by threats, violence and abuse until they feel they no longer have any choice but to continue in this way.

Resources and further information

Coventry Safeguarding Children’s Partnership Exploitation Strategy 2022-2024

Purpose and scope

Coventry Safeguarding Children’s Partnership works closely with local agencies to ensure that the priorities laid out in Working Together 2018 are met, and that all agencies take joint responsibility for protecting children and young people from harm and abuse. The aim of the strategy is to set out Coventry’s approach to tackling exploitation.

At the heart of this strategy are Coventry Safeguarding Children’s Partnership’s key values:

  • To put children, young people and families at the heart of everything we do.
  • To ensure that partners work together achieving better outcomes for children, young people and their families.
  • To recognise and share examples of good practice so that these can be replicated in other areas.
  •  To be innovative and to try new approaches to ensure continuous improvement.
  • To be open and honest about barriers that may be preventing improvement so that we can collectively agree how these may be overcome.
  • To ensure that poor practice is challenged appropriately to ensure that it leads to improvement in the system.
  • To ensure that children, young people and their families receive the right service, at the right time in the right way.

Our approach to child exploitation encompasses child sexual exploitation, child criminal exploitation and, where there are links to child exploitation, gangs, county lines, knife crime, radicalisation, youth violence, modern slavery and child trafficking.

The strategy focuses on three key areas:

  • Prevent
  • Protect
  • Pursue

This strategy should be read in conjunction with other key strategies, policies and procedures including the regional Child Protection procedures for West Midlands, child affected by exploitation and trafficking including gangs, right help, right time, and the early help strategy.

Context

The One Coventry Plan has a strategic objective to keep children safe from harm and to provide early intervention to all children who need it

Tackling child exploitation is a complex task.  Children do not always recognise the coercive nature of the relationship and do not always see themselves as at risk of exploitation. There is growing national recognition of the similarities between different forms of exploitation and the criminal and sexual exploitation of children may overlap and link.  Victims of child exploitation may, at any one time, be subject to both.

Perpetrators of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) can share patterns of behaviour in respect of coercion, violence, intimidation, and the power imbalance inherent in them and many other offences.  However, circumstances in which the exploitation occurs can demand different approaches. It should also be recognised that children may be both victims and perpetrators of exploitation.

It is increasingly recognised across the country that all forms of exploitation take place irrespective of social class, race and ethnicity, gender, urban and rural areas.  However, it is also widely recognised that perpetrators are more likely to target children who are more vulnerable due to social, economic or emotional factors.

The Independent Inquiry into Child sexual exploitation by organised networks noted that in relation to  “Child Sexual exploitation often leads to children suffering one or more of the following:

  • mental health consequences, including low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), self-harm and suicide attempts;
  • adverse effects on future behaviour and development, including age-inappropriate sexual activity, alcohol and drug misuse, a lack of ability to trust others and build relationships, and involvement in the sexual victimisation of others; and
  • physical health implications such as sexually transmitted diseases, unplanned pregnancy and possible termination, physical injury and genital injury.Some of the effects may take time to manifest themselves after exposure to the abuse has ended”

Coventry Safeguarding Children’s Partnership recognises that there is also a long-term profound impact on victims, families and communities of Child exploitation which demonstrates the importance of partners working together to address this issue.

More recently, for the first time, Working Together 2018 recognises contextualised safeguarding and children with complex safeguarding needs where the harm/abuse occurs outside the home and is not related to the care given to the children by their parents or family.  It provides useful clarity regarding statutory intervention for children where abuse takes place outside the family home. The general rhetoric around this guidance remains the same but equally important, everyone who comes into contact with children has a role to play and a child centred approach is fundamental to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child.

Figures published by the Department for Education reveal that 12,720 children assessed by children's social services in England between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021 were deemed to be at risk of criminal exploitation.  In the West Midlands, 1550 children were identified as being at risk as a result of involvement with gangs. DfE figures also show there were 16,830 children where child sexual exploitation was a factor during their assessment and 2710 children where trafficking was a factor.

Locally the Horizon Team reported that 101 children known to their service were at risk of CSE in the last quarter of 2021-22. Throughout the year there were 70 reports of CSE to West Midlands Police in Coventry which is approx. 9% of the total regional reports of CSE. 15 children were taken into police protection as a result of CSE in 2021-22. St Giles received 24 referrals from University Hospital Coventry in relation to exploitation, mostly sexual exploitation.

Definitions

Child Sexual Exploitation

Child sexual exploitation is a form of child sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology. (Dept. for Ed: Definition and a guide for practitioners, local leaders and decision makers working to protect children from child sexual exploitation, Feb 2017 [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/591905/CSE_Guidance_Annexes_13.02.2017.pdf])

Child Criminal Exploitation

Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into any criminal activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial or other advantage of the perpetrator or facilitator and/or (c) through violence or the threat of violence.  The victim may have been criminally exploited even if the activity appears consensual.  CCE does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology. (Home Office: Serious Violence Strategy, April 2018 [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/698009/serious-violence-strategy.pdf])

Networks

A ‘network’ is defined as “two or more individuals (whether identified or not) who are known to (or associated with) one another”. Offender networks are often loosely interconnected rather than formally organised and older children or teenagers may also be involved in grooming victims.( https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/iicsa-child-sexual-exploitation-by-organised-networks [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/iicsa-child-sexual-exploitation-by-organised-networks])

Indicators of exploitation

  • Going missing for periods of time, regularly returning home late or staying out late or overnight. Missing episodes can also occur in the day especially for children who are home educated.
  • Regularly missing school or not in education due to part-time timetables and exclusion.
  • Appearing with unexplained gifts or money.
  • Being in a controlling relationship or having an older boyfriend or girlfriend.
  • Having a new group of friends.
  • Receiving more calls/texts than usual.
  • Being very protective of their mobile phone or having multiple phones or SIM cards.
  • Suffering from sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy or anal/vaginal injury.
  • Uncharacteristic and significant mood swings or changes in behaviour and emotional wellbeing.
  • Carrying drugs, unexplained amounts of money or weapons.
  • Talking about an individual or group who have a lot of influence over them.
  • Hanging around with older individuals or groups and breaking ties with old friends.
  • Dropping out of positive activities and hobbies.
  • Unexplained physical injuries and/or refusal to seek or accept medical treatment.
  • Travelling alone to places far from home or being found by services out of area.
  • Unexplained bus or train tickets.
  • Using new language, words or hand signs you wouldn’t expect them to know.
  • Changing their appearance, e.g. particular style, colours.
  • Refusing to enter certain streets or parts of the city.
  • Drug and alcohol misuse.
  • Being secretive.
  • Self-harming.
  • Displaying unhealthy or inappropriate sexualised behaviour or language.
  • Concerning use of mobile phone and internet.
  • Involved with gang activity or gang affiliated.
  • Spending time in CSE/ CCE known gang territories or hotspots.
  • Being frightened of certain people or places.
  • Physical signs of abuse, such as bruising, burns or lacerations.

Strategic aims

 Objective

 Aim

 Prevent
  • Understand the profile of victims, offenders and locations.
  • Raise awareness with professionals, families, young people and communities.
  • CSCP to ensure an effective workforce development offer to ensure children and young people at risk of or experiencing exploitation are identified and supported at the earliest opportunity
  • Consider vulnerable groups when identifying areas for targeted work to include areas of deprivation, children with disabilities, care leavers and children who are permanently excluded from education.
  • Increase understanding of networks and be assured that processes are in place to identify networks.

 Protect
  • CSCP to review the Exploitation screening tool and raise awareness of it across agencies.
  • CSCP to monitor completion rate of Exploitation screening tool by agencies.
  • Partners across the City to understand the risks and vulnerabilities in relation to exploitation.
  • CSCP to promote the importance of relational working when supporting victims of child exploitation.
  • CSCP to review the structure of multi-agency meetings to ensure that children are identified at the earliest opportunity and effective measures are put in place to support them and their families.
  • CSCP to review Information sharing in relation to exploitation to ensure that there is effective 2-way communication.
  • CSCP to monitor not only the rate of return home interviews for missing children but also that the information gleaned from them is used in the child’s plan.
  • CSCP to create a culture whereby victim blaming is challenged and the child is also treated as a victim.
  • CSCP to develop a workforce development offer to support practitioners to be trauma informed when working with affected children and young people.
  • CSCP to seek assurance from agencies that there is effective supervision and support in place when working with children at risk of or experiencing exploitation.
  • CSCP to review the local approach to addressing critical moments to ensure that services are in place and pathways are well understood across the partnership.
  • CSCP to monitor the numbers of children excluded from mainstream education and the response to these children.

 Pursue
  • CSCP to ensure that wherever possible and appropriate offenders are disrupted, arrested and prosecuted.
  • All agencies will consider disruption methods, both civil and legal, to safeguard young people.
  • All agencies to share information to assist with prosecutions and in relation to highlighted locations, perpetrators or suspected perpetrators within communities.

How we will measure success

  • Number of children or young people at risk of, or experiencing exploitation identified.
  • Number of children or young people with a reduction in their exploitation risk.
  • Number of children supported at risk of exploitation supported by early help or child in need plans,
  • Number of attendees at multi-agency exploitation training.
  • Number of hits to exploitation resources on the website.
  • Number of civil orders/ prosecutions used in relation to exploitation.
  • Number of perpetrators, locations and networks identified.
  • Evidence of positive outcomes seen in multi-agency exploitation audits.

Coventry Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP)

This team cannot take calls related to individual children or families. To discuss an individual or a case please call Coventry Children’s Social Care at the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 024 7678 8555.

Telephone: 024 7697 5477 [tel:02476975477]

Preventing youth crime

Support to children and families where there is a concern about a young person possibly at risk of or being exploited by a gang. [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/childrens-social-care/child-sexual-exploitation-cse/6]

Coventry Safeguarding Children Partnership has collaborated with organisations and agencies within Coventry in order to create a booklet on preventing serious youth violence [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/7716/serious-youth-violence-booklet]. This booklet describes the interventions and prevention activity in place for each agency, and includes a glossary at the end of the document.

Coventry Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP)

This team cannot take calls related to individual children or families. To discuss an individual or a case please call Coventry Children’s Social Care at the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 024 7678 8555.

Telephone: 024 7697 5477 [tel:02476975477]

Radicalisation and violent extremism

Coventry Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP)

This team cannot take calls related to individual children or families. To discuss an individual or a case please call Coventry Children’s Social Care at the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 024 7678 8555.

Telephone: 024 7697 5477 [tel:02476975477]

Child trafficking and modern slavery

Child trafficking is the movement of children and/or young people under the age of 18 using deception, fraud or force with the aim of exploiting them. It’s a form of modern slavery and is child abuse. Children can be trafficked internationally and/or within the UK. Distance is not always an identification factor in trafficking, a child may be flown from one side of the world to another to be exploited, or they could be exploited at one address in Coventry then driven 100 yards down the road to another house and exploited again. In both cases the children are being trafficked.

Traffickers can be male or female, from any and all backgrounds, countries, and communities. They may be small scale, trafficking a very small number of children up to a large international criminal network with a broad spread of crimes as well as trafficking, such as money laundering. Children don't need to be accompanied by an adult to be exploited, they could be given a package of drugs and told to walk to an address. This is still exploitation.

Traffickers use various methods to obtain children, they may:

  • Threaten parents with violence
  • Use force
  • Convince the parents they owe a debt to the traffickers that will take many years to repay but taking a child repays the debt instantly
  • If the parents are already indebted to traffickers, the debt may pass to the children to repay in the parents’ place. This ‘repayment’ may take various forms including trafficking
  • Some parents are assured that if traffickers take their children overseas, the children will be offered steady well-paid work and a good standard of living. Sometimes the families pay a fee to the traffickers to take their children abroad, in the belief they will have a better future. Sadly, this is not the case.

Although it’s impossible to know exactly how many children and young people are victims, Modern Slavery is on the increase. Some victims have been trafficked from overseas and some are British victims who have existing vulnerabilities. Despite their individual circumstances, all are susceptible to the promises of well-paid work and good accommodation, which turns out to be a deception.

National Crime Agency – Free the Unseen [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RBblPD60Wg].

The top ten countries of origin for trafficked minors in 2018 submitted via the National Referral Mechanism were as follows:

  1. United Kingdom
  2. Vietnam
  3. Sudan
  4. Albania
  5. Eritrea
  6. Romania
  7. Iraq
  8. Ethiopia
  9. Afghanistan
  10. Nigeria

Source -  The National Crime Agency’s National Referral Mechanism statistics End of Year Summary for 2018 [https://nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/who-we-are/publications/282-national-referral-mechanism-statistics-end-of-year-summary-2018/file]

Children and young people may experience multiple types of exploitation and may not disclose all forms of exploitation to professionals. Please find below examples of some forms of child exploitation, but please note there are many more not listed here:

  • Labour exploitation (nail bars, car washes, catering, agricultural work, factory work)
  • Forced criminal activity (cannabis cultivation, pick-pocketing, cashpoint/credit card theft, drug dealing, gang-related crime)
  • Sexual Exploitation
  • Domestic Servitude (excessive levels of household work, including childcare)
  • Benefit Fraud (including pregnant young people exploited for maternity benefits)
  • Illegal inter-country adoption
  • Forced marriage
  • Bonded labour/debt bondage (children can be born into a situation where they must work to pay off a debt incurred by their parents)
  • Organ harvesting

Exploitation (including sexual exploitation) can affect children of any gender. However young people may not always perceive themselves to be victims, they may see the situation as making their own money, being in a relationship with a perpetrator or having a free and informed choice whether to be involved in the activities or not.

The Home Office Modern slavery is closer than you think [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv1H_fAoOG4].

It’s important to understand that children are unable to consent to their own trafficking and exploitation. Professionals should be aware of the language used in discussions or case recording around victims of exploitation and should avoid suggestions of the victim being complicit or responsible for the exploitation in any way. Exploited children cannot ‘put themselves at risk’, ‘prostitute themselves’ be a ‘sex worker’ or be encouraged to abandon the lifestyle as if it were a career choice. There will be complex factors controlling their behaviour and language used by professionals should take account of the coercion and control a victim will experience.

If in doubt about what language is appropriate, please read this useful guide by the National Police Chiefs Council, about suitable language for professionals when discussing children at risk of exploitation/being exploited [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/30469/cse_appropriate_language_guidance_for_professionals].

As trafficking is child abuse it requires an immediate safeguarding response to stop the child being re-trafficked and experiencing more abuse and trauma.

If you are a professional in Coventry with concerns that a child is being exploited through modern slavery or trafficking, please contact the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH):

Telephone – 024 7678 8555

Complete a MASH referral [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/mashreferral]

Resources and further information

Coventry Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP)

This team cannot take calls related to individual children or families. To discuss an individual or a case please call Coventry Children’s Social Care at the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 024 7678 8555.

Telephone: 024 7697 5477 [tel:02476975477]

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