The horror of human trafficking, the “modern form of slavery”

After months of opposing the European Union’s Directive on Human Trafficking, the UK government recently backtracked and decided to sign up, with both Labour and the Liberal Democrats praising the u-turn and equally claiming credit for the rethink; Claire French reports

“Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery.” – Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs

Human-trafficking
Trafficked children and adults walk unnoticed through the high streets of Britain – nobody knows how many exploited people there are in the country. European research claims that “several hundred thousand people” are trafficked into the EU each year – 43 per cent are involved in prostitution and 32% in menial labour. Robert Tooby, Wales’s first ‘anti-human trafficking coordinator’, who began work on Thursday, estimates the global worth of trafficking at £23billion.

Yet in 2009 (the latest available year), just 23 people were convicted for trafficking offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Last summer’s Channel 4 documentary, ‘The Hunt for Britain’s Sex Traffickers’, showed the difficult job police forces face when trying to prosecute pimps and gangs. The three-part series followed Britain’s biggest ever investigation into people trafficking, ‘Operation Pentameter II’, which saw the arrest of 528 people and the involvement of most of Britain’s police forces. The Guardian later reported that none of those arrested were convicted of trafficking offences.

After the rescue of 15 women in brothels around the country last autumn, the Northern Ireland Policing Board outlined human trafficking as one of its key priority areas in the three-year policing strategy. Past legislation has been well received but relies on police detection to be effective – as shown by conviction rates remaining low.

Tamlin Vickers, project coordinator at the Human Trafficking Foundation, says that proof of the government’s commitment to trafficked people will come from the execution of new guidelines. He told Left Foot Forward:

“There has been a lot of good legislation on trafficking, but it hasn’t actually been implemented. And there is the problem that very often the Crown Prosecution Service accepts a plea bargain, and the consequences are that the trafficking is not actually the charge that the traffickers are convicted on.”

Britain was one of only two countries not to sign the directive. The government’s rethink on signing up is welcome progress towards taking a more active approach against modern slavery; current legislation has failed to protect and serve justice to the victims of trafficking: between 2004 and last June, just 139 convictions were secured in the UK.

But will the legislation really improve anything?

Rotherham MP and former Europe minister Denis MacShane has told Left Foot Forward that the effectiveness of the directive will be judged on how European governments implement it:

“As with the Council of Europe Convention on Trafficking, it depends on the energy and drive of ministers who can instruct the police to make this a priority. If they don’t (and the same is true in other countries) you tend to see anti-trafficking work reduced as a priority.”

Home Office cuts to police officers and the 760 jobs reported to be lost at the UK Border Agency could also affect progress towards more convictions, he added.

As Left Foot Forward reported in September, the government had remained uncompromising in its decision because of existing law. On September 15th, David Cameron told the House of Commons:

“…we have put everything that is in the directive in place.”

In fact, the directive provides four new, important areas of legislation that did not previously exist.

A recent study into child trafficking by Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People and the Centre for Rural Childhood at Perth College, University of the Highlands and Islands, found that at least 80 children have been trafficked in Scotland in the past 18 months – with no successful trafficking convictions.

An important improvement to the law will require local authorities to assign a guardian to give support for child victims of trafficking. Current British legislation does not seek to provide emotional help and support – which has kept the number of children escaping from care and being re-trafficked high.

Bob Reitemeier, chief executive of the The Children’s Society, says:

“We are pleased to see provisions for appointing an independent guardian for every unaccompanied or separated migrant child, which would provide parental responsibility to support them and make decisions based on their best interests.”

Britain will also be required to establish an independent commissioning team to research and analyse the national situation, which should then feed back to the government. Since 2000, the Netherlands National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings has produced seven publications, reporting and advising the national government on how effective anti-trafficking legislation is.

The previous government implemented some of the earlier recommendations outlined by the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. In the first 18 months of monitoring system, the ‘National Referral System’, 781 trafficked people were identified, including 156 citizens of EU member states (including the UK). Of those, 379 had been identified as being sexually exploited; 200 were victims of labour exploitation; 147 were domestic servants; and 46 remain unknown.

Opting in to the directive was just the beginning for the government’s much needed action on this internationally organised crime.

Horrifying violations of human rights take place all around Europe, but without the resources, such as police time and money, the directive could end up being nothing more than a smokescreen for the cuts to police and border detection.

http://twitter.com/clairee_french/status/54453908499742720 Claire French

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery" http://bit.ly/fdCAo7
http://twitter.com/crimsoncrip/status/54453912253636609 Crimson Crip

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://bit.ly/grvL6M special report by @clairee_french
http://twitter.com/mickghoyle/status/54453918788362242 Mick Hoyle

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://bit.ly/grvL6M special report by @clairee_french
http://twitter.com/susiemichele/status/54454110006685697 Sue Hoyle

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://bit.ly/grvL6M special report by @clairee_french
http://twitter.com/darionahi/status/54454207478112256 Dario Nahi

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://bit.ly/grvL6M special report by @clairee_french
http://twitter.com/puffles2010/status/54454924204982272 The Dragon Fairy

RT @clairee_french: RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery" http://bit.ly/fdCAo7
http://twitter.com/bigsamthetim/status/54455286299246592 cowan88

RT @clairee_french: RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery" http://bit.ly/fdCAo7
http://twitter.com/leni_lava/status/54455587852918786 kirst

RT @clairee_french: RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery" http://bit.ly/fdCAo7
http://twitter.com/andrewsb49/status/54456352810086400 Andrew Brennan

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery" http://bit.ly/fdCAo7
http://twitter.com/urlefthandwoman/status/54457313272152065 Heather Elliot

welcome the EU directive but the really work starts now if its going to make any difference http://bit.ly/hqXb2b
http://twitter.com/sullyserena/status/54463155568517120 Serena O’Sullivan

The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of #slavery" @WileyEQuixote http://t.co/jNsnERu via @clairee_french @leftfootfwd
http://twitter.com/lawsolicitoruk/status/54463530669326336 Donald Vieth

The horror of human trafficking, the “modern form of slavery”: An important improvement to the law will require … http://bit.ly/gA6gNT
http://twitter.com/baronessgoudie/status/54465520782684160 Mary Goudie

“@leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://t.co/Rn8TtUo special report by @clairee_french”
http://twitter.com/dbhorrigan/status/54465806679019520 DBHorrigan

- modern day slavery http://bit.ly/grvL6M
http://twitter.com/chrisbx515/status/54468484947648512 chris paling

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://bit.ly/grvL6M special report by @clairee_french
http://twitter.com/hens4freedom/status/54472220994572288 Hens4Freedom

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://bit.ly/grvL6M special report by @clairee_french
http://twitter.com/edanstarforth/status/54492499477139456 James van Gils

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://t.co/H4UiVt3 special report by @clairee_french
http://twitter.com/okelabour/status/54506675167698944 Okehampton Labour

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://bit.ly/grvL6M special report by @clairee_french
http://twitter.com/eastbourneclp/status/54552639848972289 Labour in Eastbourne

RT @clairee_french: RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery" http://bit.ly/fdCAo7
http://twitter.com/mdhillraiser/status/54556472553639937 Karen Murphy

RT @BaronessGoudie: “@leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://t.co/Rn8TtUo special report by …
http://twitter.com/projectexodus/status/54558848786235392 Project Exodus

UK rethinks directive
http://bit.ly/hqXb2b
http://twitter.com/akers75/status/54571422743400449 jeremy akers

RT @ProjectExodus: UK rethinks directive
http://bit.ly/hqXb2b
http://twitter.com/sustainablenet/status/54606241711931392 Neotopica

The horror of human trafficking the modern form of slavery – Left Foot Forward http://bit.ly/eTbhOU
– Slave Labor
http://juliekinnear.com Julie K.

I had never been too interested in this issue, until I met a girl working in an ngo that is trying to help the victims of human trafficking as well as provide some reasonable data and surveys. What she told me pretty much corresponds to the article and I still find it hard to believe the situation can be this grave…
http://twitter.com/makeusstrong/status/54614500279721984 Make Us Strong

The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery …: After months of opposing the European Union's … http://bit.ly/i7NrPm
http://twitter.com/altgovuk/status/54625443856392192 AltGovUK

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://bit.ly/grvL6M special report by @clairee_french
http://twitter.com/rjmangus/status/54625841488998400 Rhonda Mangus

RT @AltGovUK: RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://bit.ly/grvL6M special report by @cl …
http://twitter.com/roy_cam/status/54627238104145921 Roy Cam

RT @AltGovUK: RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://bit.ly/grvL6M special report by @cl …
http://twitter.com/missfria/status/54649204521451520 Fria Ros

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://bit.ly/grvL6M special report by @clairee_french
http://twitter.com/hitchinengland/status/54652908557451264 Hitchin England

RT @AltGovUK: RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://bit.ly/grvL6M special report by @cl …
Mr. Sensible

I think common sense has prevailed with the signing of the directive.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian_jobs_and_money/story/0,,952455,00.html Patrick Cullinane

Those who comply against their will are of their own opinion still.

Britain is the most corrupt country in the WORLD. All the People in the UK are slaves, as ALL our Civil Servants are swearing an oath of allegiance; not to uphold the rule of law, but to uphold the CROWN.

We are being robbed left right and centre by these HM Corporate Gangsters in Her Majesty’s Kangaroo Courts up and down the UK every day. This is a serious violation of Union law and our Fundamental Rights, as Community Citizens, to independent and impartial tribunals previously established by law.

Where is the independence from the CROWN; with all Members of Parliament, Judges, Solicitors, Barristers and the Police etc, swearing an oath of allegiance to uphold the CROWN? This is one gigantic HM Conspiracy against the UK People, which has clandestinely controlled and enslaved We the People for decades now.

Therefore, when is the UN going to sanction Russia, France and Germany to BOMB the UK into a democracy and FREE the People?
http://twitter.com/rickysflower/status/54692710396870656 Carol

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery" http://bit.ly/fdCAo7
http://twitter.com/projectexodus/status/54725400449925120 Project Exodus

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://bit.ly/grvL6M special report by @clairee_french
http://twitter.com/rmmbrurghost/status/54726040702029824 Dave ghostwthemost

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://bit.ly/grvL6M special report by @clairee_french
http://twitter.com/akers75/status/54730583577870336 jeremy akers

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://bit.ly/grvL6M special report by @clairee_french
http://twitter.com/extraditiongame/status/54749678444621824 Extradition Game

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://bit.ly/grvL6M special report by @clairee_french
http://twitter.com/multitudemedia/status/54812813553700864 Multitude Media

Insightful piece by @Clairee_French for @LeftFootFwd, 'Horror of #humantrafficking', incl. #HumanTraffickingFoundation – http://ow.ly/4spEY
http://twitter.com/loosethechains/status/54860083573686272 Rachel Davies

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery" http://bit.ly/fdCAo7
http://twitter.com/myinfamy/status/54935202547503104 Daniel Pitt

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://bit.ly/grvL6M special report by @clairee_french
anajinn

Obviously someone is taking kick-backs on a large scale. I agree with everything that Patrick Cullinane has stated. There is corruption on a massive scale in the UK and the international community is becoming well aware of it. Hence the government’s about turn. Why didn’t they sign the agreement in the first place? Who is getting paid to foster human trafficking INCLUDING child trafficking through forced adoption? A lot of money changes hands in adoption and fostering arrangments. Where does it all come from?
http://twitter.com/greenlightinc/status/54967447589093376 Greenlight Apparel

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://bit.ly/grvL6M special report by @clairee_french
http://twitter.com/aapremlall/status/54967603990507520 Anandi A. Premlall

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://bit.ly/grvL6M special report by @clairee_french
http://twitter.com/jrankin93/status/54970483820593152 Jill Rankin

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery": http://bit.ly/grvL6M special report by @clairee_french
Colin Peters

Just like Patrick Cullinane, I too have experienced the corruption which is rife within our legal and professional ‘systems’
I too have witnessed child stealing by social services and the state.
It will not go away by keeping quiet about it.
It has got to be tackled.
http://twitter.com/bengidley/status/55211270219104256 Ben Gidley

RT @leftfootfwd: The horror of human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery" http://bit.ly/fdCAo7
http://twitter.com/tonimariea/status/55231206018646017 Toni-Marie Andrews

http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/04/human-trafficking-investigation/

human trafficking needs some advocates!
http://twitter.com/justbecausect/status/55231501935185921 Just beCause

RT @tonimarieA: http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/04/human-trafficking-investigation/

human trafficking needs some advocates!
http://twitter.com/paulandrews33/status/55235204939382785 paul andrews

RT @tonimarieA: http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/04/human-trafficking-investigation/

human trafficking needs some advocates!