This report, authored by Ailish Saker, University of Oxford, explores the role of practitioner evidence in responding to child exploitation in the UK, how such evidence is used to improve the welfare of survivors, and how it is used to determine policy and research.
The report draws on the wisdom and experience of a multi-sector delegation of practitioners, academics, policymakers, and survivors who attended a two-day conference in October 2021 hosted by Cumberland Lodge and the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner. The conference was supported by an expert steering committee and was informed by a call for evidence which invited practitioners, academics, and policymakers to share promising practice in responses to child exploitation and trafficking. The conference incorporated the views and expertise of survivors and explored how decisions to safeguard children from exploitation are made in the best interests of the child and facilitate the voice of the child.
