Human Rights Watch received credible information that on one of the Aegean islands, girls who were possible trafficking victims had been detained together with their presumed trafficker. Although the police were alerted about the presence of the presumed trafficker, the police released them together. “For the police, it’s too much trouble to protect these girls,” we were told.304 Lack of Safeguards on Release from Detention The Samos chief of police described to Human Rights Watch how unaccompanied children were released from the Samos detention center: “If the next day a relative comes and asks for the child’s release we release the child—even the next day.”305 When we questioned further how the identity of the relative was verified, he reconsidered his statement and said they would not hand over the child if they are not sure that the person is indeed a relative. He added that children rarely possessed documents. His answers strongly suggest that no standard procedures are followed when persons who claim to be children’s relatives or care-givers seek their release. The chief of police in Orestiada, where unaccompanied children go after their release, told Human Rights Watch: “unaccompanied children stay up to three months [in detention]. Relatives or friends come to pick them up.… Normally somebody comes to pick them up. They don’t travel alone.”306 We were told, however, that in practice children are released with a deportation order and no further assistance.307 The lack of safeguards leaves the way wide open for traffickers to exploit the desperate situation in which many unaccompanied children find themselves. Gangs recruit children for labor exploitation from places such as Athens and Patras (see the first part of this chapter). They also operate in public places where children can be easily approached and lure them with the promise to take them to another country. Fourteen-year-old Wali P. told us: 304 Human Rights Watch interview in June 2008 (Name, date, and exact location withheld). 305 Human Rights Watch interview with Ioannis Kotsampasis, chief of police, Samos, May 30, 2008. 306 Human Rights Watch interview with Georgios Salamagas, Kyprinou detention center, May 25, 2008. 307 Human Rights Watch interview with Panayotis Papadimitriou, Greek Council for Refugees, Orestiada, May 25, 2008. Left to Survive 90