A recent Government report identified more than 300 suspected cases ofchildren who had been trafficked into the UK and sold into domesticslavery, prostitution or crime.
Children and schools minister Kevin Brennan said the practice guidancewould help practitioners to act quickly.
He said, 'Child trafficking is an ugly and pernicious crime, withserious consequences. It can be difficult to identify, and once in careit can be difficult for local services to ensure the children are notdrawn back into the clutches of traffickers.'
The multi-agency guide includes sections on why children are trafficked,legislation for safeguarding child victims and what settings should doif child trafficking is suspected.
It says that parents living in poverty are often persuaded their childwill have a better life, but once removed from their family children canbe subject to threats of 'voodoo' or 'witchcraft' and violence.
Safeguarding children who have been trafficked is atwww.dfes.gov.uk/consultations for comments until 16 August.