Case study: Operation Innerste

Operation Innerste was developed in 2016 as a multiagency response to the complex issues surrounding missing unaccompanied migrant children. This was led by Devon & Cornwall Police and Immigration Enforcement, working in partnership with police forces, non-governmental organisations, the Home Office Children’s Champion, Border Force and the Association of Directors of Children’s Services. The goal of the operation was to develop a process whereby first responders (usually the police) could build an early rapport with a child. This involves providing the child with a safe environment to express their needs and concerns, and the opportunity for authorities to explain the support, services and protection entitled to them. The first 72 hours following the initial contact with a child are highly significant in establishing a relationship. Through building trust between the professional and the child, it is intended to reduce the influence of traffickers and prevent the child from absconding and going missing. As part of the process, the first responder completes an initial welfare (or safeguarding) form, and obtains fingerprints and photographs from the child, which are passed on to the National Command and Control Unit for uploading on to immigration systems to ensure the identification and continuing safety of the child. This process offers a standardised, national operating response for all 43 police forces, Local Authorities’ Children’s Social Care, Immigration Enforcement and UK Visas and Immigration. Current data reveals 387 referrals have been made in the last six months, with cases rising.

Recommendation 5: the IASC should support development of a child trafficking and modern slavery ‘community of practice’ which collates, shares and evaluates up-to-date practitioner evidence across the sector. • This includes introducing a regular cross-sector conference to bring together key stakeholders. The conference should act as an accountability mechanism where practitioners can regularly review steps being taken within each sector, based on previous recommendations and discussions. • Practitioners and academics should give further attention to a public health approach and harm perspective, in addition to a criminal justice response.

Recommendation 6: increased opportunities should be created for professionals to participate in job shadowing, joint training and joint investigative training. • There is a need for regular visits to other agencies and organisations to learn from others working in the field, including hearing from more survivors and frontline practitioners.

Recommendation 7: serious case reviews to be considered as an opportunity for safeguarding partnerships to reflect on all cases, and in particular learning from and sharing good practice.