Children as young as three are being trafficked to Wales for sex and drugs by gangs who have tricked or deceived their parents, a report claims.
 
The Children’s Commissioner for Wales has uncovered 32 cases of exploited youngsters

The children are said to be brought in from China, Bangladesh and Nigeria.

Many are described as being victims of sexual exploitation, street crime, domestic servitude, cannabis production and forced labour.

The report, carried out on behalf of the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Keith Towler, uncovered 32 cases of children who had been exploited.

He said: “Children and young people who have been trafficked are extremely vulnerable.

“Many will have experienced at least one form of abuse and some have spoken about being raped, beaten, tortured and deprived of their basic needs and enslaved.

“Trafficked children and young people are moved from their country of origin to one or more new countries by individuals or gangs who have tricked or deceived them.

“It is essential that when they are found they receive the full care and protection of the statutory services.”
For child trafficking to be tackled effectively there first has to be an acceptance that it exists.

Keith Towler, Children’s Commissioner for Wales

The study, conducted by children’s protection organisation ECPAT UK said: “Evidence was found of confirmed and suspected cases of child trafficking encountered by social services, the voluntary sector and the police.

“Data was gathered from 41 practitioners who described 32 cases that caused them concern.”

They also discovered proof of at least six children going missing in Wales. Some were in local authority care, others living with apparent family members or friends before they disappeared.

Mr Towler warned this could be the “tip of the iceberg” and, as a result of the report’s findings, has made several recommendations to the Welsh Assembly.

They include a proposal to set up an all-Wales group on trafficking and that the Assembly ensure relevant training is available to all social workers.

He said he hoped the research would “help shift the culture of disbelief” that has surrounded the issue in Wales.

“For child trafficking to be tackled effectively there first has to be an acceptance that it exists,” he said.