Rising numbers of British children are falling victim to criminal gangs as artificial intelligence makes it “easier than ever” for criminals to reach and exploit them, the UK ’s anti-slavery commissioner has warned.

Children are being groomed and recruited into carrying drugs or money through AI-generated profiles imitating youngsters that are difficult for experts to spot, Eleanor Lyons said.

Criminals are increasingly using online spaces to target children unknown to social services for money laundering and drugs acts, meaning the victims are often “out of reach” of authorities and a different demographic to those who have historically been considered at the highest-risk for trafficking, she warned.

New data shows child trafficking rates are rising annually, with 7,045 children referred as potential victims of trafficking and modern slavery in 2025 – up 17 per cent on the previous year.…