Forty children helped by new trafficking support system
Joe Lepper
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
The government's newly created system of identifying and supporting the victims of human trafficking has helped 40 children since its launch six months ago.
Under the National Referral Mechanism, 108 adults and 40 children have been identified as possible victims of trafficking. All have been referred to the UK Human Trafficking Centre for support and advice.
Since the system was set up, 100 UK Border Agency officers have received specific training in spotting victims of human trafficking.
These latest figures have been revealed as the government announces its annual trafficking plan, which calls for an improved EU-wide and a focus on preventing an escalation in trafficking during the London 2012 Olympics. Last week, children’s campaigners said they feared the event could spark an increase in child trafficking.
Home Office minister Alan Campbell said: "Human trafficking is a horrendous crime and we are determined to make the UK a no-go zone for traffickers."
The government’s Office for Criminal Justice Reform is launching an online toolkit to help all frontline workers who support human trafficking victims.
