The following case studies are taken from research that has been done into the experiences of children who have been trafficked in the UK.
Forced Labour
In one case a 16-year-old Bangladeshi child was found in a restaurant as a result of a police and UKBA raid on illegal workers. The boy was unable to speak English. The family who owned the restaurant allegedly ‘bumped into’ the boy at either Heathrow or Gatwick airport and took him home to Central Wales. They denied that he worked in the restaurant but it is believed that he does. The boy is the subject of an on-going joint investigation by police and social services. However, he has been allowed to remain with this family during the investigation.
Forced Marriage
A girl from Pakistan was brought over to Wales to live with her aunt, who did not have parental responsibility. She did not attend school for at least two years and they moved address often. Aged approximately 12, the girl was sent back to Pakistan for an ‘arranged marriage’ and became pregnant. Despite giving birth to a baby at the age of 13, no referral was made regarding the young person until her baby suffered a suspected non-accidental injury.
Taken from ECPAT (2009) Bordering on Concern – Child Trafficking in Wales
Domestic servitude and private fostering
A 14-year-old Nigerian girl was identified by immigration services at Manchester airport as possibly having been trafficked, when suspicions were raised about her immigration status. Immigration staff called children’s social services. On calling the girl’s father in Nigeria, he explained that she was on holiday with an uncle to visit friends. However, the uncle did not show up. This raised concerns that the young girl may have been trafficked for domestic servitude. The girl was housed in children’s social services emergency accommodation. However, she was deported back to Nigeria a month later even though the father tried to block his daughter’s return home.
Taken from Save the Children (2007) Child Trafficking in Manchester
Exploitation through prostitution
One boy from West Africa was sexually abused and worked as a slave in a country in West Africa. This boy, with the support of a local church, was helped to escape to a European country, but the ‘agent’ facilitating his escape – a European national – abused him. He was also abused by other men and was forced into prostitution in a European country. He was 16 years old at the time. He claimed asylum in a European country, but after his asylum claim failed, the ‘agent’ brought him to Newcastle where he was abandoned. This young person was supported by Newcastle children’s social services who assessed him as having serious mental health problems. Nevertheless he was sent back to the European country he had first arrived in and claimed asylum under the immigration rule ‘Dublin II’ (whereby people seeking asylum can be returned to the country where they first claimed asylum).
Taken from Save the Children (2007) Child Trafficking in Newcastle