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Human trafficking gets life sentence in slavery crackdown Human trafficking gets life term in drive on slavery
(about 9 hours later)
A maximum life sentence for the worst cases of human trafficking and exploitation is to be introduced.A maximum life sentence for the worst cases of human trafficking and exploitation is to be introduced.
It comes after Home Secretary Theresa May said tougher sanctions would be brought in to tackle modern-day slavery earlier this year.It comes after Home Secretary Theresa May said tougher sanctions would be brought in to tackle modern-day slavery earlier this year.
The number of cases of human trafficking discovered in the UK has risen by 25% in the last year, according to new government figures. The number of cases discovered in the UK has risen by 25% in the last year, according to new government figures.
Trafficking from Albania, Poland and Lithuania has seen a big rise.Trafficking from Albania, Poland and Lithuania has seen a big rise.
Ministers are planning new legislation to simplify the law on slavery, and make it easier to bring prosecutions.Ministers are planning new legislation to simplify the law on slavery, and make it easier to bring prosecutions.
Victims are often trafficked for sexual exploitation, construction work or begging gangs. Victims are often targeted for sexual exploitation, construction work or begging gangs.
A new report by the inter-departmental ministerial group on human trafficking has revealed that 1,186 victims were referred to the authorities in 2012, compared with 946 victims in 2011. A new report by the inter-departmental ministerial group on human trafficking has revealed that 1,186 victims were referred to the authorities in 2012, compared with 946 victims in 2011.
The report revealed the largest number of victims of trafficking were from Nigeria, Vietnam, Albania, Romania and China. The report revealed the largest number of victims were from Nigeria, Vietnam, Albania, Romania and China.
Forced begging
There has been a 300% increase in Albanian trafficking, a 171% increase in victims from Lithuania, and 148% more from Poland since 2011, the report indicated.There has been a 300% increase in Albanian trafficking, a 171% increase in victims from Lithuania, and 148% more from Poland since 2011, the report indicated.
But trafficking from Romania and China had fallen, according to the figures.But trafficking from Romania and China had fallen, according to the figures.
Victims are brought to the UK do anything from work as house slaves to work in cannabis farms. Victims brought to the UK are forced to do anything from work as house slaves to labour in cannabis farms.
Eastern European women are most likely to be used as prostitutes, according to the report. Men are most likely to be used for construction work, in particular laying paving, drives or ground work. Eastern European women are most likely to be used as prostitutes, according to the report. Men are most likely to be used for construction work.
Other victims are forced to work in nail bars or takeaways. There is also a trend towards forced begging, and benefit fraud - gangmasters take all the proceeds, returning very little to victims.
There is also a trend towards forced begging, and benefit fraud. The trafficking gangmasters take all the proceeds, returning very little to their victims. Those targeted are often lured to the UK with the promise of free travel, a job and accommodation, sometimes by members of their own family. An alternative is so-called 'debt bonds' where money owed must be repaid by working in the UK.
Those targeted by the traffickers are often lured to the UK with the promise of free travel, a job and accommodation, sometimes members of their own family. An alternative is so-called 'debt bonds' where money owed must be repaid by working in the UK. Klara Skrivankova, from the Anti-Slavery International group, wants greater protection for victims - including the right to stay in the UK.
"Tougher penalties and longer sentences alone do not suffice," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"Unless the protection of victims is put on a statutory footing, we're unlikely to see more prosecutions."
Kristy Adams, a Conservative councillor who runs the Bedfordshire Against Modern Slavery group, told Today: "We've got organised groups but also individuals being lured to the UK. They think they're being led to a lovely new life with new opportunities, but they're actually being led to a life of horror and despair."
Chief constable Shaun Sawyer of the Association of Chief Police Officers said "the national approach is very much about the protection of the victim", but he added: "I agree that the signposting and signalling could be clearer".
"A lot of people are prosecuted for GBH, rape, violence against the individual - it's far easier to bring the perpetrator to justice this way. This Bill will make it easier to prosecute for trafficking."
In her Tory party conference speech, Mrs May said an order banning someone convicted of trafficking from being a gangmaster after their release from prison would form a key part of the new bill.In her Tory party conference speech, Mrs May said an order banning someone convicted of trafficking from being a gangmaster after their release from prison would form a key part of the new bill.
She also said the government's Modern Slavery Bill would contain new anti-trafficking measures, including: