CHILD sex trafficking is becoming a big problem for the south west and councils in the region have been criticised by children’s charity Barnardo’s for not doing enough for victims.

More than 80 per cent of local authorities across the UK are not providing specialist services for children, according to the charity in a report yesterday, which also shows last year they helped more than 1,000 children.

In the region, there is currently just one specialist centre for victims, in Bristol, which the charity says is not good enough.

Barnardo’s south west assistant director Duncan Stanway, pictured, said: “We don’t know the true extent of this problem, but we know, however hidden from the public eye it might be, it affects many thousands of children.

“Trafficking could mean that a child is moved from one part of Swindon to another by an adult for sex.

“We shouldn’t have to do this work, but adults are not going to stop the predatory sexual abuse of girls and sometimes boys.

“We shall not stop trying to thwart such people and help their victims escape from their clutches.

“I believe that sexual exploitation is becoming more organised – the criminals who abuse are more sophisticated.

“There are networks of older men grooming and trafficking children in the UK. It’s a growing phenomenon and it’s extremely difficult to police.”

Last year Bernardo’s worked with 1,060 children who had been sexually exploited – sexually abused for cash – in just 20 of the 209 local authorities and trusts.

Despite all 209 local authorities and trusts across the UK having responsibility for producing Children And Young People Plans, only 40 are known to provide any type of specialist service.

The charity has also said another problem is that there are no official records kept on the number of children exploited and where local authorities have asked Barnardo’s to research a potential problem.

The report also reveals disturbing trends both in child trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation and the risks to children and young people who go missing.

Of the 609 sexually exploited children and young people Barnardo’s is currently working with, 90 appeared to have been trafficked within the UK, which equates to one in six.

National research estimates that 100,000 young people under the age of 16 run away from home or care each year, across the UK.