UNICEF has released a report concerning the fate of child victims of trafficking in the United Kingdom.

The study published today calling for new safeguarding measures says official figures significantly underestimate the “hidden crime” of child trafficking, which sees children as young as five brought secretly into Britain to work as domestic servants, in cannabis factories, or for sexual exploitation or under-age marriage.

A key finding of the report was the lack of services and care available for children who are identified as child trafficking victims.  Even after being identified as victims, many of the children simply disappear.

Most children identified and put into care, usually living in hostels or bed and breakfast accommodation, simply disappear. They may be lured away again by criminals or the same traffickers who brought them illegally into the country, according to campaigners.

Government figures highlighted in the Unicef study reveal that of 72 Chinese children known to have been trafficked into Britain during 18 months in 2005-6, 63 (88%) have since gone missing.

Of the 140 boys identified as trafficked into the country during that period, three quarters are now missing from care. In total, 183 of the 330 trafficking victims were now missing.

Every year, an estimated 1.2 million children become victims of trafficking.  

The Human Trafficking Market is estimated to be valued at $32 billion.

To read the report, please click here (download page at UNICEF UK).