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UK Steps Up Action on Human Trafficking

The UK government has committed itself to tackling human trafficking by publishing its action plan to end the sale of women and children for labour and prostitution.

As part of the drive, home secretary John Reid is signing the European convention on human trafficking. Human trafficking has been described as a modern form of slavery and the moves come as the bicentenary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade approaches.

The action plan includes measures to protect and detect victims, and increase awareness and knowledge of the crime. It will see specialist teams established at ports of entry, an advice line set up for child trafficking and a referral system to formally identify victims.

"Human trafficking is an appalling crime which causes terrible trauma to its victims," said Home Office minister Vernon Coaker. "The government have introduced comprehensive anti-trafficking laws resulting in a number of successful convictions, and have given the police the power to seize assets to prevent offenders profiting from their crimes."

There is currently one refuge for trafficking victims - the government funded Poppy Project. But Coaker said the action plan and move to sign the European convention "demonstrates the governments commitment to do more and help identify and protect the victims of this vile crime".

It is also "another step towards our other main aim to make the United Kingdom a hostile place for traffickers", he added. However, the Conservatives argued that the move was welcome but not sufficient.

"Signing up to the convention while welcome is insufficient alone," said shadow home secretary David Davis. "There are more practical measures that [John Reid] could and should adopt to combat this heinous crime - such as establishing a dedicated UK border police which would proactively detect and deter this evil practice."

Human rights charity Amnesty International commended the government for signing the convention. Campaigns director Tim Hancock said it was "a great step on the road to eradicating trafficking in Britain." "It should end the situation of victims being criminalised and facing possible immigration detention and deportation, instead of receiving the support they need," he added.

Adapted from: UK steps up action on human trafficking.