What to do if you’re worried about your child being exploited

If you are worried about a child or young person because you think that they are being exploited and are at risk of going missing, there are some things that you can do.

What to do

• When your young person is going out, ask for details of who they are going to meet and where. We understand that it may not always be possible to ask this or that you may not get a response. But if you can, this information could be useful should you have to report them missing.
• Agree on a time that you would like your child to be home by saying “I would like you home by…” as opposed to “You need to be home by”. This approach should help to avoid escalation of any conflict and mean you are both clear on expectations. Make it clear to your child what will happen if they do not return by that time.
• Take note of what your child is wearing. If you need to report them missing, you may be asked to list their items of clothing, jewellery, hair style etc.

How to get help

If you’re worried that your child may be being exploited by gangs, our SafeCall service is here to help you.