child exploitation
Call the UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline on 08000 121 700
What is child exploitation?
Children (people under the age of 18) are being exploited all over the world, including in the UK.
The impacts of exploitation in childhood do not end in youth. For many survivors, trauma carries into adulthood, resulting in long-lasting psychological and physical effects. Recovery can take many years, and some survivors may struggle with everyday pressures or with parenting their own children as a result of what they experienced.
Child exploitation is a form of modern slavery that involves the abuse of power which is used to coerce, manipulate, or deceive a child or children into situations that benefit someone else. Child exploitation can take many forms. Often perpetrators can subject children and young people to various forms of abuse at the same time such as trafficking, sexual, criminal, or labour exploitation.
there are many types of child exploitation with the most common in the UK being:
Child sexual exploitation
Child sexual exploitation
Sexual exploitation of children is where an individual or group abuses an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child (person under the age of 18) into sexual activity, in exchange for something they need or want, or for the financial gain or other benefit of the perpetrator. It may involve physical contact or take place online.
Children make up only 20% of the population but are the victims in 40% of all sexual offences. 7.5% of all adults in England and Wales are estimated to have been sexually abused before the age of 16, according to the Office for National Statistics’ Crime Survey for England and Wales 2025.
Child criminal exploitation
Child criminal exploitation
Criminal exploitation of children occurs when an individual or group abuses an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child into criminal activity, for the benefit of the perpetrator or in exchange for something the child needs or wants. It can involve violence, threats, or intimidation. Criminal exploitation does not always involve physical contact and can also take place online. It includes practices such as county lines, forced theft, financial exploitation and the movement of drugs or money.
county lines
County lines is a form of criminal exploitation where criminal gangs organise illegal drugs to be moved and sold from one area of the UK to another, usually from urban to rural areas, through the manipulation and coercion of children. The term refers to the mobile phone lines used by gangs to organise the movement and sale of drugs. Children are recruited by gang members who groom them by posing as friends and then lure them into a terrifying cycle of violence, exploitation and abuse.
46,000 children in England are thought to be involved in gangs, 84% of parents are worried about county lines in their area and 4,000 teenagers are being criminally exploited in London alone. – The Children’s Society
child forced begging
This is a form of modern slavery and trafficking where a child (person under 18) is coerced, manipulated or deceived into begging for money in public places. This money is then taken from them by perpetrators for their own financial gain.
money muling
Money muling is when a young person is persuaded, pressured or tricked into receiving and transferring money on behalf of criminals, often through their bank account, putting them at risk of fraud charges, debt, and further exploitation.
forced theft
Children may be coerced, threatened or manipulated into stealing for someone else’s benefit, often as part of wider criminal exploitation, putting them at risk of arrest, harm and further control by offenders.
labour exploitation
labour exploitation
Labour exploitation involves forcing a person to work through coercion, threats, or deception, and children can be particularly vulnerable to this form of exploitation.
Under UK child labour laws, it is illegal for children to be employed in work that is harmful, hazardous, or interferes with their education, yet exploited children may be forced into labour in sectors such as (but not exclusive to) car washes, nail bars, hospitality, and construction.
In these situations, people often have little control over their hours, pay, or conditions, and may be subjected to intimidation or abuse to keep them compliant. This kind of exploitation is a form of modern slavery and requires immediate safeguarding and specialist support.
domestic servitude
domestic servitude
Domestic servitude is one of the hardest forms of exploitation to spot. It involves forcing someone to work within a private household, often under conditions that are exploitative, controlling, and degrading.
Children in domestic servitude are often treated differently to other members of the household, experiencing and living in different conditions. Exploited children may be made to cook, clean, care for other children, the elderly or infirm, or perform other household duties for excessive hours with no freedom, pay, and often without access to school. They are often isolated, controlled through threats or dependency, and prevented from seeking help.
The following could indicate a child is being exploited:
Mood swings, including being angry, upset or withdrawn.
Inappropriate sexual behaviour.
Dressing inappropriately for their age.
Going missing at night or weekends and not being clear about their whereabouts.
Failing to attend school.
Having gifts, presents or expensive items which they can’t explain.
What we are doing and how you can help
Unseen is actively working to combat modern slavery in the UK, including preventing child exploitation.
Through our partnerships and the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, we provide advice, guidance and help to access ongoing support to children in exploitation and adult survivors who were exploited as children to support their recovery. We provide advice and guidance to anyone concerned about child exploitation such as parents, teachers, law enforcement, and other statutory and non-statutory professionals. We also take reports of concerns about child exploitation from members of the public who have observed something worrying.
You can support this work and help end child exploitation by learning more and increasing your awareness about how exploitation is happening across the UK and donating to Unseen.
If you have concerns about exploitation occurring please contact the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline to make a report.