Child exploitation is a hidden problem - police

PC Mike Smith and PC Chantelle Wildman are working to tackle child exploitation in Plymouth

Police in Plymouth have launched a new campaign to raise awareness of child exploitation and how to report it.

Devon and Cornwall Police said its Operation Makesafe campaign would run until 15 September with the aim of educating people on how to spot the signs of child exploitation.

The force said it would be speaking to residents and businesses such as hotels and taxi firms about what to look out for.

PC Mike Smith said police wanted to make sure Plymouth was a safe place for young people and a hostile place for those looking to exploit children.

Child exploitation is when someone takes advantage of a child to get them to commit crimes.

The force said this could include children being forced into selling drugs or couriering money.

It said the signs a child could be a victim of exploitation included carrying a lot of cash, having more than one phone, hanging out with people who look older than them and having new things they could not normally afford.

'Need to educate'

PC Smith said: "Exploitation can happen anywhere, it's a national problem and a hidden problem.

"We need to educate the public so they can recognise if suddenly a young person's behaviour changes or these signs start cropping up so we can act."

Insp Tom Crabb, a sector inspector for Plymouth South, said people should be unafraid of making a report.

He said: "I'd much rather that we have calls and we go, investigate it and nothing's wrong than someone see something and doesn't make the call - we could have prevented something serious from happening."