SEVERAL places in Swindon and Wiltshire were searched by police for signs of child exploitation. 

Working with Wiltshire Council, Swindon Borough Council and British Transport Police, officers from Wiltshire Police's dedicated Exploitation and Missing team visited several hotels, taxi ranks and railway stations on March 20. 

In Swindon, officers visited the train station where 15 members of train staff, cafe workers and shop workers were spoken to, raising awareness of what to look for and who to contact if they witness anything. Posters were also left.

Police also visited 40 taxi drivers, giving information and posters to place in cabs, the bus station where they spoke to 20 staff members, and five hotels.

Police say these are often areas where child exploitation is most obvious and prevalent.

The signs could be a withdrawn lone child at a railway station, bus stop, or fast-food outlet, or a single young person on their own or with an adult at a hotel or roadside services. 

They could also be a child taking a taxi alone or with an adult who doesn’t seem quite right; or any public place where a young person on their own would appear out of place.

This follows Saturday, March 18, which was National Child Exploitation Awareness Day, and launched the strapline 'Say Something If You See Something' with members of the public urged to report something if they don't feel it's quite right. 

Child exploitation, which is still ever present in our society, covers anything from the coercion of young people under 18 into sexual activity to children being forced to work for a County Lines drugs gang. Some are also trafficked and victims of modern slavery.

Detective Inspector Eirin Martin, head of the Exploitation and Missing Team, said: “Often child exploitation sits under the radar and so there are usually only subtle signs that this type of crime is taking place. 

“Our intelligence work can help prevent this, but we need the public’s help too.  To be our extra eyes and ears.  To spot those signs in everyday situations.

“Please also note that those who do the exploiting are not necessarily your stereotypical criminal either.  They can be individual men or women, groups or even other young people.

“Child Exploitation Awareness Day, which is supported by us and the multi-agency partners we regularly work with, encourages everyone to look out for the signs of abuse and sexual abuse in young people so we can help and remove them from harm."