Child sexual exploitation training for hotel staff

Operation Makesafe

Today’s training will cover

• What is child sexual exploitation

• How to identify signs of CSE

• How to report concerns

• Why it is your responsibility to report concerns

• Questions

This training works

• A member of hotel staff reported during this training something they had seen just 48 hours earlier. This was then investigated by police the following day and a suspect was arrested. One more child was protected.

• 70% of reported incidents of suspected child sexual exploitation correctly identified a child at risk.

Definition of Child Sexual Exploitation

Vulnerable young people aged under 18 who are manipulated into a sexual relationship or situation by an adult or young person.

It is known for children as young as 10 to be subjected to this abuse, which often involves young people being offered something in return for performing sexual acts. These acts could take place in hotels

Gifts can include alcohol, cigarettes, mobile phones, gifts, money, drugs, affection.

Any children or young people can be affected

Criminal offences

Child sexual exploitation is a crime. •You are legally required to report any suspected criminal activity

•Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014

•We all have a moral responsibility to protect children

•Protect your company’s reputation, avoidnegative media attention

Why are we training youOperation Makesafe is a nationwide police initiative to protect children by training people how to identify children at risk.

You are our eyes and ears

We know that CSE takes place in hotels of all types and you can help us prevent it. You are best placed to see things and report anything suspicious.

Working together

Together we can save more children and young people from harm

Everything you report is confidential

You can be confident that anything you report to the police will remain confidential and will not be a risk to you or your company.

What to look forChecking in:

•An adult refusing to leave credit card imprint and paying in cash

•Guests requesting a room that is isolated

•Guests with a local address renting a room

•Guests who appear secretive about their visit or conceal their activities in the room

•Guests who are secretive about who they are with

•Last minute/walk-in bookings

•Bookings made in a different name to those who check-in

•Person speaking a different language to the person who made the booking

•Guests who do not have any luggage or ID

•Guests arriving and asking for a specific room number but they don’t know the name in which the room is booked

•Young people with significantly older boyfriends/girlfriends

What to look forUse of the hotel:

•Frequent visitors to the hotel who do not appear to have a reason for being there

•Number of different people visiting a room at regular intervals

•Guests who move in and out of the premises regularly at unusual hours

•Individuals who appear to be monitoring public areas

•Guests who appear to be under the age of 25 in the hotel bar or a when delivering alcohol to rooms

•A hospitality suite with business persons and young girls or boys

•A young person who appears withdrawn or appear afraid, disorientated or acting under instruction

•Young persons who appear overly made up

•Teenagers loitering in public areas/external areas of premises

What to look forUse of the room:•A pre-paid bar tab to a room where children stay

•Guests who don’t want their room cleaned or visited

•Guests who access an excessive or unusual amount of pornography (TV or computer)

•Guest rooms with a lot of condoms, condom wrappers

•Signs of alcohol, drug or substance misuse

•Lots of coming and going from the room

•Noise complaints

•Lack of luggage

What to do if you see something

• Call the police on 101 and quote Operation Makesafe

• Your call is confidential

• Police call handlers will ask you a series of questions • Preserve evidence. Do not move items from the room, do not let

anyone go into the room until the police arrive or instruct you otherwise

• The police will follow up and the impact on your hotel will be minimal

Questions police will ask at time of reporting

1. What is the exact current location of the suspects and victim? (i.e. hotel room number and hotel address)

2. Concise description of both the suspect and victim

3. If known, names and D.O.B of both suspect and victim?

4. Any vehicles involved, if so colour, make, model and number plate?

5. Who is the designated member of staff meeting police and where will they meet police?

6. What are the specific reasons for concern?

7. If suitable please preserve the room.

How to protect your business Age verification checks

Refusal records

Incident logs

Police reporting protocols

Patrol records / CCTV checks

Staff training records

Review your booking policy

Training your staff

• Include training in staff induction

• Create checklist of what staff need to know

• Regular refresher sessions and discussions in team meetings

• Put up posters in staff room

• Up-to-date records for individual employees

• Incentivise schemes for employee training

• Training should include: Age verification; CSE awareness; premises monitoring.

Say something if you see something

“I really believe in Operation Makesafe. I see protecting children as hotel staff’s responsibility. I don’t want a child to be hurt, it’s as simple as that. The police can’t work alone, they need us behind them.”

Holiday Inn Duty Manager

Any questions?

Thank you

Police Sergeant Richard Bunch Westminster Police Licensing Team Metropolitan Police Service Call: 020 7641 3347 Mobile: 07887 451394 E-mail: Richard.Bunch@met.police.uk