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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Keep trafficking unit, Met urged | Keep trafficking unit, Met urged |
| (about 13 hours 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. |
| The Met said the team, set up in 2007, had direct funding for three years. | |
| 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 BBC's June Kelly says in the team's short history, it has 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. | 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 its 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." |
| 'Financial pressures' | |
| 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. |
| Any decision to cut the team, even if there are serious financial pressures, is very dangerous given the considerable risks of trafficking associated with the Olympics Aidan McQuade, Anti-Slavery International | |
| A Met Police spokesman said it had been conducting a review about its response to "all organised immigration crime and trafficking". | |
| "This has yet to be ratified but proposes clubs and vice [team] have enhanced resources and take over trafficking for sexual exploitation investigations." | |
| Aidan McQuade, director of Anti-Slavery International, said getting rid of the team, "even if there are serious financial pressures", was "very dangerous". | |
| "Clubs and vice have experience of trafficking for sexual exploitation but their remit does not cover trafficking for forced labour or domestic servitude," he said. | |
| On the funding issue, the Home Office said there was a "clear understanding" with the Met "that any future funding as of 1 April 2010 would be met from its central budget". | |
| A spokeswoman added that the Home Office provides funding to the Serious Organised Crime agency, which investigates human trafficking, and the UK Human Trafficking Centre, a police-led multi-agency centre which co-ordinates intelligence and operations. | |
| 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. |