The fast food establishment Chicken Cottage is set to provide training for over 100 of its employees across London to help recognize signs of exploitation among its teenage patrons.
The Children’s Society, spearheading this initiative, expressed concerns that criminals are occasionally targeting young people at fast food outlets to recruit them into drug trafficking, money laundering, or sexual exploitation.
Although the majority of Chicken Cottage locations are situated in London, there are also branches in Leeds and Greater Manchester.
Azam Hanipah, the finance manager for Chicken Cottage, emphasized that the goal is to “foster enduring change and motivate action,” ensuring that they establish “safe environments” for youth.
Mark Russell, CEO of the Children’s Society, remarked, “Currently, thousands of children in the UK are vulnerable to exploitation and in dire need of our assistance. This partnership extends beyond merely training staff; it’s about fostering community collaboration to intervene.”
The charity noted that at-risk teenagers might be attracted by fictitious job opportunities, financial incentives, and “false friendships.”
Employees will be instructed on how to identify troubling behaviors, such as young individuals traveling alone or seeming anxious and under the influence of older adults.
This program builds on a prior initiative aimed at training hotel managers to recognize and report signs of abuse and trafficking.
In 2019, Chicken Cottage, along with Dixy Chicken and Morley’s, distributed chicken boxes containing warnings about the hazards of knife carrying.
These boxes also featured real-life accounts of young individuals who opted for positive pursuits over armed violence.
However, this initiative faced criticism from some quarters, being labeled as offensive and a manifestation of racial stereotyping.
