The children groomed in Romania for the UK sex trade- BBC News

Report Summary

The report examines how Romanian women and girls are groomed and trafficked into prostitution in the UK, and why efforts to help them often fail.

Detecting trafficking in the UK

Police suspect that women working in brothels and private homes may have been trafficked, but victims may deny it or refuse to speak. Officers say the trade is difficult to detect because it takes place in ordinary houses. In one case, police could not remove women from a property because they lacked clear evidence of trafficking, and sex work is legal in the UK.

The “loverboy” method

Staff at a Romanian children’s shelter describe how recruiters—sometimes approaching girls at school—pose as loving boyfriends and manipulate them into the sex trade. They say the girls are getting younger. One 13-year-old wanted to return to a 52-year-old man she considered her boyfriend.

Victims and missed opportunities

Elena was brought to the UK by a man she believed loved her. She was later found severely beaten and close to death. The report says many victims may remain hidden, and that Romanian women often distrust police, making it harder to identify victims and prosecute traffickers.

Andrea’s family says they had to rescue her themselves because they believed the authorities had not acted effectively. The report also recalls the case of 15-year-old Alexandra, whose calls for help were not acted on in time. She was murdered, and her case prompted public protests demanding change.

Ongoing risks

Contributors argue that trafficking remains profitable and relatively low-risk. Although Romania says it has introduced tougher sentences for trafficking children, the report suggests enforcement has had limited impact. Andrea’s father later tells the reporter that the same men have taken his daughter again, despite the family’s efforts to protect her.

Presenters and contributors

• Jean Mackenzie (reporter)
• Detective Colin Ward
• Staff at a Romanian children’s shelter
• Elena
• Andrea and her family