Man caught meeting teen in Antrim hotel thanks to staff's child explotation training

The PSNI have highlighted the importance of training as they continue to face the challenge of child sexual explotation cases in Northern Ireland.

Through its campaign, Operation Makesafe, which raises awareness in the community and trains key sectors, including the night-time economy, educating them on what to look out for that may indicate a child is at risk.

The operation's success was demonstrated when the PSNI arrested a man in Antrim after a hotel receptionist, trained to look for the signs of CSE, contacted them expressing concern.

Police said: "On 7th February 2023, a 16-year-old girl was seen meeting at the Holiday Inn Express in Junction One, Antrim, with a 38-year-old man. The man had said the girl was his daughter, but when she arrived at the hotel, she appeared very nervous, giving the wrong room number and no shopping bags despite her supposed visit to the shops.

"A phone call was made to the police, and the man, Paul Livingstone, was arrested for the Abduction of a Child in Care. He was convicted on 21st May 2024 at Antrim Court."

Stephen Kingsbury, the hotel's Deputy Manager, commended the training that had helped them identify warning signs of exploitation: "Training is vital to our staff… and we are thankful that our vigilance was able to aid the Police in securing a conviction against a child predator in our community.”

In an effort to extend the reach of the operation, an awareness event was held at Girdwood Community Hub in Belfast on 26th November 2024, hosted by the Lord Mayor of Belfast and Belfast City Council. This community event showcased just how vital the role of the community is to help keep children safe from exploitation.

Detective Chief Inspector Claire McGarvey, Chair of the SBNI Online Safety Committee, emphasised the need for recognition of often hidden signs of CSE, which include adults befriending young people, adults buying alcohol for minors, and other strange behaviours, such as accompanying a young person to a hotel at very strange hours.

“The warning signs of Child Sexual Exploitation are often hidden in plain sight,” McGarvey said. "Through Operation Makesafe, we are able to arm our local communities with the knowledge on how to spot signs of CSE and build courage in reporting.”

Currently, 39 children in Northern Ireland are on the Child Sexual Exploitation Framework, identified as being at risk by both police and social services, but police say this is merely the tip of the iceberg. The public is urged to remain vigilant, especially in hotspots such as bars, hotels, and taxis.

Any child can be exploited or abused, no matter their background, culture, ethnicity or religion, whether they are a boy or girl. There are lots of signs to look for:

· Adults befriending young people

· Adults who have been noted visiting with different young people

· Adults accompanying young people and acting in an intimate way with them

· Adults who are accompanying young people who look to be confused or distressed

· Adults buying alcoholic drinks for someone expected to be under 18

· Picking young people up in your taxi and dropping them at a local hotel at odd times of the day/night

· Adult guests requesting a room that is isolated

· Adult guests accessing pornography in a room where you think a child may be present

If you have any concerns that a child may be in danger from exploitation, please contact the PSNI online, via 101 or in an emergency 999. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

For further information on how to prevent CSE, see the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s website.

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