Key Words: human

A shocking report in the Independent warns that the UK risks 'losing the fight' against human trafficking, unless the criminal justice system urgently improves its response to the crime.
There is widespread evidence that many trafficked people are prosecuted for crimes that they are being forced to commit, whilst the criminal bosses who enslave them go unpunished. 
Shockingly, one judge told a woman who had false papers 'I accept that you have been a victim of trafficking and you were exploited', whilst sending her to prison for 12 months.
Anti-Slavery International branded such cases as 'unacceptable'. 
And we'd like to ask:  Are we letting down those very people that we are fighting to save?

Read the full article by clicking on the link below:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/exclusive-uk-is-warned-it-is-losing-fight-against-modern-slavery-8654529.html?goback=.gde_2051349_member_248974350

Source:  The Independent

​Following on from the impressive Anti Human Trafficking Conference at the Fairfield Halls two weeks ago, the Croydon Advertiser have again published a story giving much-needed and very welcome publicity to CCAT and our cause.
The article, entitled 'Borough to be a no-go zone for traffickers' includes an interview with CCAT, as well as a report of the conference. 
Hannah Miller, who is head of the council's adult services, said 'I think we are leading the way in cracking down on trafficking'.  Peter Cox, from CCAT, added 'it's vital that all the agencies link up and we stop treating victims as criminals or illegal immigrants'. 

For the full article, click here

Source:  The Croydon Advertiser / thisiscroydontoday.co.uk

Thanks to the Croydon Advertiser for bringing the plight of trafficked women in our area to the readers' attention once again.  

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

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

An article on backpage.com has highlighted the dangers of the 'virtual street corner'. 

According to the article, girls no longer tend to 'walk the streets' as they can now be ordered online - 'as easily as pizza'.  What is more, potential victims can be researched by pimps and traffickers who prey on vulnerable victims, and send out hundreds of 'friend requests' to kids who are naive enough to accept and allow entrance to their lives. 

The thousands of girls who are advertised online are often dressed to look older, according to police, who alert punters to words such as 'super cute' to show that the victims are young.  

However, Facebook and twitter both say they have zero tolerance for any form of trafficking or exploitation.  A spokesman says 'we have implemented robust protections to identify and counter this activity'.  On their Report center, Facebook have a form to report trafficking or abuse. 

Source:  backpage.com
To read the full article, click here