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Some in UK Demand Action on Trafficking

The UK should sign up to a European convention tackling the "hideous trade" of human trafficking, the Tories say.

Shadow home secretary David Davis said not enough was being done to tackle the modern slave trade" which, he said, was "spiralling out of control". The European Convention Against Human Trafficking covers a range of measures including the one to provide temporary, 30-day residence permits to victims to recover from their ordeal and reflect on whether they will help police prosecute offenders.

There are some fears this aspect of the convention may be open to abuse by people making false claims of being trafficking victims in a bid to remain in the country. But Mr Davis denied this would be a "pull factor" for those seeking residence in the UK. "They are not going to take up a life of being brutalised in the sex trade in order to get residence here," he said.

"The people who make the decisions in this trade are not the victims, but are the criminals. The way to change that decision for them is to catch them, to prosecute them and to punish them and to make sure we protect their victims at the same time."

Mr. Davis said trafficking should be the Serious Organised Crime Agency's "top priority", and added that there should be more international police co-operation to chase down criminals, and victims should be offered a helpline and more safe houses. A border police force should be set up to look for suspicious signs - like swift return tickets or those bought for cash, and to interview adults and children separately to ensure their stories match up.

Adapted from: "Tories demand trafficking action." news.bbc.co.uk.  3 January 2007. (Source: UNIAP Thailand)