UK statistics have revealed that child trafficking referrals in Britain increased 30 percent last year, the highest figure on record.
According to the latest figures from the UK government’s National Crime Agency, the number of children referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), which identifies victims of human trafficking, increased to 1,278 in 2016, a record high.
The report also said the majority of the kidnapped children were drawn into exploitative labor, sexual abuse and forced criminality.
Trafficking covers children moved within Britain, as well as moved to the country from overseas.
The UK was the most prominent country of origin for trafficked children, with a total of 255 reported cases in 2016, followed by Albania, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Eritrea.
Nations affected by war were also highly affected, including Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan, Pakistan and Eritrea, indicating that children fleeing conflicts and instability are also…