Child trafficking is on the rise, here’s how to spot a victim in a hotel or on a plane and what to do
A child trafficking expert reveals typical signs in a child's appearance and behaviour
Last month, a flight attendant made headlines worldwide after she revealed she had saved a teenage girl from a sex trafficker while working on a flight.
Shelia Fedrick spotted the warning signs in the young woman and managed to get a message to her secretly, before alerting the authorities.
Child trafficking is on the rise in the UK and across the EU, with young people most often exploited for sex.
Cabin crew, hotel staff and others working in the hospitality industry are trained to spot the warning signs of child trafficking, but would you know what to do in that situation?
Kristin Weis from helps to rescue both children and adults from trafficking through prevention, prosecution and rescue.
She says that the internet is making it increasingly easy for predators to prey on children and lure them away from their homes.
Here, she tells Sun Online what warning signs to look out for in a trafficked child if you encounter them at an airport, in a hotel or restaurant, and what you should do about it.
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Their appearance
Often a trafficked child is dressed up to look older than they are - like they are way too fixed up.
They are used to getting their hair fixed, their nails done and proper make-up, as well as attractive but inappropriate clothing and very high heels.
Their behaviour
If someone has been lured into the trafficking, instead of kidnapped, they won’t look cautious and fearful.
But there are other signs to spot, like the dynamic between the young person and the adult they are with.
Are they able to talk freely and go here they want to go, or are they constantly being controlled and watched?
The child will also often give little to no eye contact, act clingy and beaten into submission.
If they do talk, it might be with coaxed or rehearsed sentences.
What should you do if you suspect a child is being trafficked
Approaching a situation head on is not the right way as you’ll put yourself and the controlled person at risk.
Be prepared with a national helpline number to give the alleged victim, an organisation that isn’t law enforcement.
Also, try to very covertly take a picture of both the child and the suspected predator and if they head to a car, try to get the licence plate details – that way they are easier for the authorities to identify.
If you are on a plane, tell the flight attendant or the captain, because an authority figure will know what to do.
If the incident occurred at a hotel, call the local police instead – don't go to the hotel manager because if they are hanging around the hotel, the hotel could be crooked.