Hotel spot checks across Essex test child exploitation awareness

More than 100 hotels, B&Bs and guest houses across the county have been visited by officers to alert staff to the signs of child exploitation.

In Epping Forest, Southend and Thurrock, undercover officers accompanied by police cadets attempted to book rooms to test whether receptionists would act and intervene when presented with a situation that should have concerned them.

Of the 16 establishments targeted, 11 refused to allow a booking. Although far from perfect, this represents a considerable improvement on two years ago when less than a third of businesses tested raised concerns. Those that failed will be offered extra safeguarding training.

The work is part of Operation Makesafe, a national initiative to raise awareness of child exploitation within the hospitality industry, educate staff and empower them to report concerns.

Signs of possible exploitation to look out for include a child or young person arriving with an adult without luggage; arriving with an adult who appears much older, and the child or young person looking worried, scared or intoxicated.

These might be last-minute, walk-in bookings where the adult insists on paying with cash, requests a double room, provides a local home address, or has no ID. There may be multiple visitors to the room, people requesting to visit the room, or guests declining to have the room cleaned.

Victims of child exploitation may be trafficked across counties to sell drugs, coerced into sexual relationships with adults or incentivised to commit crime with alcohol, cigarettes, mobile phones or money.

Alongside the accommodation venues visited, officers have also been to caravan parks, skate parks, fast food outlets and vape shops where children and young people are known to frequent to speak to staff.

PC Haywood oversees the force’s Operation Makesafe deployments. He said that raising awareness of the issue is vital and that people need to report straight away if they have concerns about a child or young person.

“Hotels, bed & breakfasts and guest houses are regularly used by perpetrators for the purposes of meeting, grooming and ultimately abusing children and young people. To stop this from happening within our county we all need to be alert to the signs of child exploitation.

“The aim of Makesafe is to raise awareness. Our officers talk to the staff and business owners about child exploitation, and what they should be doing if they are presented with a situation where they think a child or young person may be at risk.

“We are part of a strong network of safeguarding partners in children’s social care working with colleagues in Southend, Thurrock and across Essex, to help victims and prevent offending.

“If people think they’ve seen something they feel isn’t right, report it. It could be a vital piece of information that helps us prevent exploitation.

“Operation Makesafe is recognised nationally by all police forces as a proven tactic to deter offenders, and to protect and prevent children and young people from exploitation. We will continue to conduct Makesafe deployments at venues across the county throughout the year to test staff.”

Information around recognizing child exploitation including links to a free e-learning package covering exploitation awareness can be found on the Essex Safeguarding Children Board’s website. The website also offers advice about other matters involving safeguarding children.

If you have concerns regarding a child or young person, call us on 101 quoting Op Makesafe or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. If a child is in immediate danger always call 999.

Anyone with information should contact us as soon as possible.

You can let us know by submitting a report online or by using our Live Chat service. 

Our Live Chat service is available on our website 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can send and receive real-time messages with an online operator.

To use the service, select the ‘Live Chat’ icon at the bottom right of your screen when you're on our website.

Or you can call us on 101.