Operation Makesafe
Child sexual exploitation training
for hotel staff
Today’s training will cover
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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
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Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing
Act 2014
• We all have a moral responsibility to
protect children
• Protect your company’s reputation, avoid
negative media attention
Why are we training you
Operation 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 for
Checking in:
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An adult refusing to leave credit card imprint and paying in cash
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Guests requesting a room that is isolated
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Guests with a local address renting a room
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Guests who appear secretive about their visit or conceal their activities in the room
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Guests who are secretive about who they are with
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Last minute/walk-in bookings
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Bookings made in a different name to those who check-in
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Person speaking a different language to the person who made the booking
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Guests who do not have any luggage or ID
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Guests arriving and asking for a specific room number but they don’t know the name in
which the room is booked
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Young people with significantly older boyfriends/girlfriends
What to look for
Use of the hotel:
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Frequent visitors to the hotel who do not appear to have a reason for being there
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Number of different people visiting a room at regular intervals
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Guests who move in and out of the premises regularly at unusual hours
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Individuals who appear to be monitoring public areas
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Guests who appear to be under the age of 25 in the hotel bar or a when delivering
alcohol to rooms
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A hospitality suite with business persons and young girls or boys
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A young person who appears withdrawn or appear afraid, disorientated or acting under
instruction
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Young persons who appear overly made up
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Teenagers loitering in public areas/external areas of premises
What to look for
Use of the room:
• A pre-paid bar tab to a room where children stay
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Guests who don’t want their room cleaned or visited
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Guests who access an excessive or unusual amount of pornography (TV or computer)
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Guest rooms with a lot of condoms, condom wrappers
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Signs of alcohol, drug or substance misuse
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Lots of coming and going from the room
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Noise complaints
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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