News

Croydon Borough Commander David Musker has asked for widespread awareness among the local community as two reports have come in from local primary schools concerning threats to school children.

In one incident near Smitham Primary School in Coulsdon, a girl was approached and asked to accompany a man.  When she refused he drove off.  This morning parents noticed a car parked outside a school in South Norwood, which then disappeared as people took notice of it. 

These are classic signs of traffickers watching and waiting to pounce on their prey.  Please be careful and please be aware.

Six men have been found guilty of drugging, raping, trafficking and using young girls as prostitutes in Oxford.

The girls were all in care and the supposed safe-keeping of the local authority in Oxford. 

The men were described by police as 'predators who identified the most vulnerable girls in society and corrupted them entirely'.   The case comes less than a year after the Rochdale case when MPs launched an enquiry and found major faults in care across the country. 

For the full story, click here.
Source:  The London Evening Standard

The story hit the headlines last night.  Police in the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea have smashed a sex-slave ring, and rescued nine trafficked women.

What struck me is that the story holds true to so many of the facts that we speak about every time we seek to raise awareness about the traits of trafficking.
1)  The victims were tricked into coming to the UK from Eastern Europe by the lure of jobs in the leisure industry
2)  Once they arrived, they were forced to work as prostitutes, told that their family would be in danger if they refused to obey
3)  The suspected ringleader, as well as many of the other traffickers, were women. 

This success for the Human Trafficking and Prostitution Unit was the first carried out by the European Communities Against Trafficking (ECAT), a scheme part-funded by the European Commission, and was also helped by the bravery of the victims in coming forward to police. 

Victims of trafficking were urged to call the 24-hour helpline on 0800 783 2589

For the full story, click here
Source:  The Evening Standard

You'll have heard the amazing, horrifying story of the three girls rescued in Cleveland, Ohio, after nine, ten and eleven years of absence.  Neighbours were stunned and couldn't believe what had been going on.  BUT....read further, and you'll see there were signs and disturbing warnings around.  A little girl appearing at the window of a house with no children.  A naked woman on her hands and knees disappearing back into the house.  A scream.  Our message today is BE VIGILANT.  Be aware.  Spot the signs and don't think that you are being a nosy neighbour by reporting something that may just save someone's life.  Or save them from spending years of abuse and torture - unseen, unheard.  

Human trafficking victims who have until now been held guilty for the crimes they commit will no longer be prosecuted, Police Scotland have revealed.

An initiative has been launched in South Wales to try to help locate some of the 300 missing children who are reported each month in the region.

Children who go missing, who are often society's most vulnerable kids from children's homes and foster care, are at great risk of harm.  One of the worst potential threats to them is the human trafficking gang. 

Joyce Watson, chair of the Welsh Asssembly's Human Trafficking Group, told the BBC that she was fearful of the children becoming prey for abusers. 

Source of article and picture:  BBC
For full article, click here.

A leading think-tank has published a report claiming that authorities in the UK barely understand the crime of trafficking and that the police give it a low priority. 

The Centre for Social Justice has demanded that an anti-slavery commissioner is established, and that the UKBA be stripped of its authority to decide whether or not someone is a victim of trafficking. 

Christian Guy (seen right) who heads up the CSJ, describes the current system as a 'catastrophic failure'.  In particular, he has highlighted the plight of British victims of the crime. 

However, the Home Office have defended themselves, claiming that the crime of trafficking is elusive in its very nature, and that they will continue to improve over time. 

For the full article, and to read the stories of some of the victims, click here.
source:  The BBC

Police and border agencies have this week carried out a series of co-ordinated raids, across France, Belgium and the UK, and believe that they may have cracked a major people-smuggling ring in the process.

Three friends are planning to run no less than 39 marathons in 33 days across Eastern Europe to raise awareness about the plight of the victims of trafficking.

As Eastern Europe is now a key place of origin for many of the victims that come over to the UK, it seems very appropriate that this is where the three men are carrying out their gruelling feat.

They are running on behalf of Love 146, a charity that aims to stamp out child sex-trafficking, and aim to raise no less than £150,000. 

Whilst they are running the majority of their 60 miles a day without support, facing gruelling weather and terrain conditions, they are urging people to run alongside them if at all possible. 

You can find out more by going to www.runforlove1000.com.

And because we like to play our part to raise awareness here in Croydon......why not get thinking about what you could do right here in our local area to help to raise awareness and attract more members to our cause?

Source:  Evening Standard
For the full article, click here.