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| Keep trafficking unit, Met urged | Keep trafficking unit, Met urged |
| (12 minutes later) | |
| Proposals by the Metropolitan Police to disband its specialist human trafficking team have been attacked by several leading charities. | Proposals by the Metropolitan Police to disband its specialist human trafficking team have been attacked by several leading charities. |
| The charities, including the NSPCC and Amnesty International, say the move would be seriously detrimental to the fight against trafficking. | The charities, including the NSPCC and Amnesty International, say the move would be seriously detrimental to the fight against trafficking. |
| They have written to Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson appealing for the unit not to be disbanded. | They have written to Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson appealing for the unit not to be disbanded. |
| A final decision on whether the move will go ahead is expected within weeks. | A final decision on whether the move will go ahead is expected within weeks. |
| 'Specialist knowledge' | 'Specialist knowledge' |
| The Metropolitan Police's Human Trafficking Team was set up in 2007. | |
| The BBC's June Kelly says that in its short history its already been threatened with closure once before, because of funding problems, and later given a reprieve. | |
| Now once again there is a proposal to disband a team which has been described as an international example of good practice, our correspondent says. | |
| Human trafficking is a complex, sensitive issue Charities' letter | Human trafficking is a complex, sensitive issue Charities' letter |
| If the trafficking team is disbanded, the proposal is for their work to be given to other Met officers. | If the trafficking team is disbanded, the proposal is for their work to be given to other Met officers. |
| The charities, which also include End Child Prostitution and Trafficking and the Poppy Project, which helps victims of trafficking, have banded together to protest. | The charities, which also include End Child Prostitution and Trafficking and the Poppy Project, which helps victims of trafficking, have banded together to protest. |
| They stress that with victims traded for different reasons - including sex, forced labour, and domestic servitude - specialist policing is needed. | They stress that with victims traded for different reasons - including sex, forced labour, and domestic servitude - specialist policing is needed. |
| In their letter, they say: "Human trafficking is a complex, sensitive issue. | In their letter, they say: "Human trafficking is a complex, sensitive issue. |
| "Given the continually evolving nature of the crime, it has taken the Human Trafficking Team and Non-Governmental Organisations working in the field a number of years to develop their expertise in the area. | "Given the continually evolving nature of the crime, it has taken the Human Trafficking Team and Non-Governmental Organisations working in the field a number of years to develop their expertise in the area. |
| "Policing trafficking for forced labour, domestic servitude and all other forms of exploitation requires specialist knowledge and understanding of trafficking, dedicated resources and commitment." | "Policing trafficking for forced labour, domestic servitude and all other forms of exploitation requires specialist knowledge and understanding of trafficking, dedicated resources and commitment." |
| The charities also warn that when London plays host to the 2012 Olympics it could become even more of a magnet for the traffickers because experience shows that where large number of people gather there is an increased demand for sexual services. | The charities also warn that when London plays host to the 2012 Olympics it could become even more of a magnet for the traffickers because experience shows that where large number of people gather there is an increased demand for sexual services. |
| London is often the first stop in the UK for victims. Human trafficking has been described as the third largest international crime, following illegal drugs and arms trafficking. | London is often the first stop in the UK for victims. Human trafficking has been described as the third largest international crime, following illegal drugs and arms trafficking. |
| The nature of the crime means that the cases which are detected are the tip of the iceberg, according to one senior Met officer. | The nature of the crime means that the cases which are detected are the tip of the iceberg, according to one senior Met officer. |
| Giving evidence to the Home Affairs select committee in 2008, Commander Alan Gibson said: "I would not like to say how much of its is above water." | Giving evidence to the Home Affairs select committee in 2008, Commander Alan Gibson said: "I would not like to say how much of its is above water." |
| Commander Gibson said that in the previous two years the Met had dealt with 211 cases. | Commander Gibson said that in the previous two years the Met had dealt with 211 cases. |