ECPAT UK

Lone children seeking asylum in the UK placed in Home Office hotels are at increased risk of exploitation suggests new publication by UCL researchers and ECPAT UK

Unaccompanied children went missing by the hundreds when accommodated by the Home Office, yet officials denied reports of the on-going risk of exploitation. A new publication from UCL researchers and ECPAT UK found that housing lone children in Home Office child hotels, as occurred between 2021 and January 2024, increased their risks of trafficking and exploitation. Read more
ECPAT UK calls for a UK wide child exploitation strategy with key priorities for action for the new UK Government to tackle child trafficking

ECPAT UK calls on the new UK Government to take the opportunity to address the on-going failures child victims continue to face and to develop a UK wide child exploitation strategy that respects children's rights to protection and care with ten key priorities for prevention and support. Read more
Final judgment issued in ECPAT UK case against Kent County Council and the Home Office

The High Court has issued its final ruling in the case brought by ECPAT UK on the use of hotels to accommodate unaccompanied children. The judgment, once again, emphasises that Kent County Council cannot derogate from its duties under the Children Act 1989 and that both the Home Office and Kent County Council should take all steps to ensure that the unlawful situation never arises again. Read more
Evaluation of the expanded Independent Child Trafficking Guardians (ICTG) roles published by the Home Office

The government has published the evaluation of changes to the Independent Child Trafficking Guardian (ICTG) service. ECPAT UK urges a reversal of the suspension of post 18 support in light of the evidence of their own evaluation . Read more

ECPAT UK responds to the King's Speech

In his speech on Wednesday, the King set out the government's plans for the new parliamentary session. We at ECPAT UK applaud the announcement of a Children’s Wellbeing Bill and the introduction of a child criminal exploitation offence in the Crime and Policing Bill and measures for Victims, Courts and Public Protection Bill.

ECPAT UK calls for a UK wide child exploitation strategy with key priorities for action for the new UK Government to tackle child trafficking

ECPAT UK calls on the new UK Government to take the opportunity to address the on-going failures child victims continue to face and to develop a UK wide child exploitation strategy that respects children's rights to protection and care with ten key priorities for prevention and support.

Lone children seeking asylum in the UK placed in Home Office hotels are at increased risk of exploitation suggests new publication by UCL researchers and ECPAT UK

Unaccompanied children went missing by the hundreds when accommodated by the Home Office, yet officials denied reports of the on-going risk of exploitation. A new publication from UCL researchers and ECPAT UK found that housing lone children in Home Office child hotels, as occurred between 2021 and January 2024, increased their risks of trafficking and exploitation.

ECPAT UK wins legal challenge on the unlawful accommodation of unaccompanied children

The High Court has upheld ECPAT UK's claim that both Kent County Council and the Secretary of State for the Home Department have acted unlawfully in respect duties owed to children under The Children Act 1989 and routine placement of unaccompanied children seeking asylum in hotels.