Even something that seems like normal teenage behaviour could be a sign that a child is being sexually exploited. Some of the visible signs that family members or people who know young people might identify are:

• regularly missing from home or school and staying out all night
• change in behaviour - becoming aggressive and disruptive or quiet and withdrawn
• unexplained gifts or new possessions, such as clothes, jewellery, mobile phones or money that cannot be accounted for
• increase in mobile phone use or secretive use
• appearing to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• being picked up or dropped off in cars by unknown adults
• a significantly older ‘boyfriend’ or ‘friend’ or lots of new friends
• spending excessive amount of time online and becoming increasingly secretive about time spent online
• sudden involvement in criminal behaviour or increased offending
• sexual health problems

Members of the public and those in service industries, such as taxi drivers, hoteliers and food outlets, might notice signs like:

• being taken into a hotel room by one or more adults who do not seem to be family members
• being in a hotel room which is visited or requested by a number of additional adults
• going by taxi to a hotel or other venue to meet a group of adults who do not seem to be family members
• being out late with older adults who do not seem to be family members
• being bought alcoholic drinks by adults
• being in the company of adults who are known or suspected of being involved in adult prostitution
• being bought food or drinks by a much older adult whom they seem to see as a boyfriend/girlfriend
• indications of sexual activity with one or more adult who is significantly older than the young person
• indications of sexual activity involving a young person who you know or suspect to be under 16