WIREDGOV

New measures to boost UK fight against human trafficking

HOME OFFICE News Release (056/2009) issued by COI News Distribution Service on 1 April 2009

Victims of human trafficking will receive better protection and support under new measures coming into force in the UK today.

The Council of Europe Convention Against Trafficking in Human Beings, which takes effect today, creates minimum legal rights for victims and strengthens the UK's ability to catch the criminals that exploit victims of trafficking.

This milestone follows the government's moves to double funding for the UK Human Trafficking Centre to £1.7million since 2006/7.

It underlines the government's long-term commitment to tackling this horrific crime and building on the UK's existing efforts to identify and support victims of trafficking and investigate and prosecute traffickers. Adopting the Convention means those measures will become even more robust and consistent.

Key new measures include:

* a National Referral Mechanism, providing a nationally agreed framework to help frontline staff identify victims of trafficking and offer them support;

* £4m over 2 years to enhance the services for victims including an expansion of accommodation and support through the criminal justice system- resulting in more traffickers being brought to justice; and

* granting a 45 day minimum reflection and recovery period to victims and the possibility of a one-year renewable residence permit.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:

"Human trafficking is one of the most horrendous crimes threatening our society. Those who are responsible for this modern form of slavery are profiting from human misery and suffering.

"We have reached a major milestone today in the fight against trafficking by implementing measures that help us build on our existing efforts to turn the tables on traffickers and provide victims with protection, support and a voice in the criminal justice system.

"It is vital that European member states work together to stop this awful crime and I am determined that the UK will continue to play its part by supporting victims and bringing the perpetrators to justice."

The UK ratified the Convention in December 2008, reaching a major target in the UK Trafficking Action Plan.

The new procedures brought in under the Convention have been tested in several police-led operations. They include Operation Pentameter 2 in 2007/8, which recovered 167 victims from 833 premises and made 522 arrests. Over £500,000 was seized and in excess of £3m assets held under restraint.

The government will build on its achievements so far by doubling funding for the UK Human Trafficking Centre to £1.7million since 2006/7. The UKHTC plays a central role in the fight against trafficking by co-ordinating the law enforcement response, acting as the UK's central point for intelligence on human trafficking and housing one of the competent authorities that decide who qualifies as a victim.

The government also announced last month a further £3.7 million over the next two years for the Poppy project to help vulnerable victims of human trafficking. Managed by Eaves Housing for Women, the Poppy project has provided refuge to over 400 hundreds of victims of human trafficking since 2003

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Human Trafficking can be viewed online at http://www.coe.int/t/DG2/TRAFFICKING/campaign/default_en.asp.

Details of the UK's implementation of the Convention can be viewed at
http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/humantrafficking005.htm

2. The UK Human Trafficking Action Plan can be viewed online at

http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/humantrafficking004.htm

3. The UK is one of 20 Council of Europe members that have ratified the convention. It was formalised when Eleanor Fuller, the UK's permanent representative to the Council of Europe, deposited an instrument of ratification with the Secretary General Terry Davies in Strasbourg on 17 December 2008, confirming the convention would become binding in the UK on 1 April 2009. A full list of member states that have ratified the convention is available at http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/trafficking/default_en.asp

4. In preparation for the implementation of the Convention in the UK, the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) in conjunction with the UKHTC has developed a series of training modules to be included on mainstream police training courses. The UK Border Agency has also conducted a programme of awareness-raising for staff to prepare for the start of the new measures.

5. Recent operations Tolerance and Ruby, targeted at trafficking for labour exploitation, have helped to improve understanding of this previously less known form of trafficking and to strengthen skills for front line staff.

6. To date there have been 103 convictions for trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation under the Sexual Offences Act and six convictions for trafficking for labour exploitation.