The British Transport Police in Nottinghamshire protected children traveling alone at risk in three separate incidents on Tuesday evening.
The three young people affected had all been identified by social services as being at risk from criminal gangs.
In a tweet late Tuesday evening, BTP Nottinghamshire encouraged the public to spot signs of child exploitation by crime.
The tweet read: “In various incidents tonight, we protected three children traveling alone who were identified by social services as vulnerable to exploitation by criminal gangs.
“Could you see the signs of child exploitation? Get to know them at nspcc.org.uk. ”
The NSPCC lists frequent absenteeism, missing home, long absenteeism, traveling for inexplicable reasons, use of new slang, anger, aggressiveness or violence, self-harm, and inexplicable money as some of the possible signs of a child or boy being on person joined a gang.
The organization advises on its website: “It may be difficult to spot at first, but the earlier you can talk to the young person, the more you can help them.”
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