### Police Data Reveals Child Sexual Abuse in Hotels
Police have received hundreds of reports of child sexual abuse occurring in high street hotel chains, according to data shared exclusively with BBC News.
In 2023, 504 offences were recorded in hotels, with 92% (464) involving physical contact with a child, and 40% (203) classified as rape. The data, provided by the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC), indicates that many of these incidents occurred in budget hotel chains.
Although these offences represent less than 1% of all recorded sexual crimes against children in England and Wales in 2023, authorities believe the true figures are likely higher due to underreporting. The NPCC emphasized that police forces are collaborating with hotels to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation.
### Operation Makesafe: Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation in Hotels
Under the initiative known as Operation Makesafe, hotel staff are being trained to recognize signs of sexual exploitation and instructed on how to report suspicious activity to the police.
A survivor of child sexual abuse, who was frequently taken to hotels by her abuser, told the BBC that the data is unsurprising. “You can put a *Do Not Disturb* sign on the door, and then they can do whatever they want with nobody wondering what’s going on,” she said. “I can’t even stay in a hotel now without thinking about what happened to me.”
UK Hospitality, a trade body representing over 130,000 venues, has pledged to intensify efforts to combat this “abhorrent crime.”
### Why Hotels Are Targeted
The NPCC noted that many of the reported incidents occurred in hotels located in major towns and cities, often near transport hubs like train stations and motorways. These locations make it easier for perpetrators to meet and exploit victims.
Budget hotels, in particular, are often targeted due to features like self-service kiosks, which allow perpetrators to check in without interacting with staff. “Once you’re behind that hotel bedroom door, there’s a degree of privacy that perpetrators often don’t find elsewhere when they commit abuse,” said Phil Ashford from the NPCC’s child sexual exploitation taskforce.
“We’re talking about some of the most serious contact offending imaginable—the rape and serious sexual abuse of children,” he added.
Assistant Chief Constable Becky Riggs highlighted the importance of Operation Makesafe, stating that its impact “cannot be overestimated.”
### Warning Signs for Hotel Staff
Operation Makesafe has outlined several red flags for hotel staff to watch for:
**Perpetrator behavior:**
– Insisting on paying in cash
– Reluctance to provide identification
– Requesting isolated or double rooms
– Showing no familial connection to the child when questioned
**Child behavior:**
– Appearing unhappy or nervous
– Deferring to the adult to answer questions
– Failing to engage or provide identification
### Police Training and Response
Sergeant Ian Haselden of Greater Manchester Police explained that officers conduct training operations where they pose as abusers attempting to book a room with a child acting as a victim. These exercises help hotel staff recognize suspicious behavior and respond appropriately.
“We’d rather they be safe than sorry because this is an extremely serious crime,” Haselden said. “If hotels are suspicious, the gold standard response is to call the police.”
While most incidents were reported in budget hotels, Haselden stressed that child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) can occur anywhere, including luxury establishments. “It would be wrong to assume it’s just going on in one part of the market—it’s happening everywhere,” he said.
### Victim and Suspect Demographics
The data revealed that 26% of victims in the 504 reported offences were aged 15, 18% were aged 16, and 17% were aged 17. The majority of victims (84%) were female. Almost all suspects (92%) were men, with an average age of 28.
The NPCC noted that victims of abuse in hotels tend to be older compared to victims of CSAE offences in general. Only 4% (21) of the reported crimes involved multiple suspects, but victims have reported that perpetrators often belong to grooming gangs, where children are shared among abusers.
### Industry Efforts to Combat Abuse
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality, said the organization is working closely with the Home Office and police to support Operation Makesafe. “We provide hospitality businesses with police guidance on what the signs of child sexual exploitation are, how to spot them, what to do if you think an incident is taking place, and measures hotels can implement to deter incidents,” she said.
### A Call to Action
The NPCC calculated the data by searching for keywords like “hotel” among the 115,489 CSAE offences recorded in 2023. Authorities are urging hotels to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior to the police.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, support and advice are available through the BBC Action Line.
Source: bbc.com