Responding to the Government's consultation on prostitution, Paying the Price, the charity said efforts to eradicate child prostitution had been hindered by a lack of safe places where young people could stay and get the care they need.
Safiya, now 20, who was abused through prostitution from the age of 12, said: "Some young people are controlled by pimps and want to leave but don't know how. Once you're addicted to drugs or alcohol, all you care about is your next fix.
"You don't realise that what's happening to you is sexual abuse. You need somewhere safe to go and someone to reassure you that help is there if you want to leave, instead of being arrested and ending up back on the streets."
Kathy Evans, director of policy at The Children's Society, said children involved in prostitution needed to be protected, not punished or ignored.
- www.childrenssociety.org.uk.
