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Human trafficking convictions 'too low'
A SOUTH Yorkshire MP has slammed the "unbelievably low" number of human trafficking cases resulting in convictions.
Figures released by the Government reveal that between 2004 and June last year there were 139 convictions secured across the country, including 15 in South Yorkshire.
South Yorkshire has one of the best records and reputations for cracking human trafficking networks but Rotherham MP Denis MacShane, a former Europe minister, has accused police of not taking full advantage of powers they have to stamp out the trafficking of sex slaves to brothels across South Yorkshire.
He said despite two major UK-wide police operations - Pentameter One in 2006 and Pentameter Two in 2007 - involving raids on hundreds of brothels, he was disappointed at the number of people convicted for forcing women to work as sex slaves.
He said: "It's unbelievably low and it's a real scandal that despite legislation on the books and police operations like Pentameter the police are not using the powers they have to crack down on sex slave trafficking by making the men who go to massage parlours and the brothels accept their responsibilities.
"Sex slave traffickers are laughing in the face of the police and public opinion and bringing ever more women into the UK.
"Until the police tackle the demand side - that is making men responsible - there will be little change in these shocking statistics."
Government officials insist the international nature of human trafficking and the challenge of persuading sex slaves to give evidence against the criminals who control them makes it difficult to secure convictions.
The Government is developing a renewed offensive against the organised crime gangs behind human trafficking trade, which will place greater focus on intercepting traffickers and preventing criminal activity before it reaches the UK.
The new plan will be published soon alongside the strategy on organised crime, which will create a new National Crime Agency.
Immigration Minister Damian Green said: "Human trafficking is a brutal form of organised crime.
"Combating human trafficking is a key priority for the Government, which is committed to tackling organised crime groups who profit from this human misery, and to protecting victims.
"I am confident that once fully developed the new strategy will help us better intercept the perpetrators of this appalling trade."
The UK Human Trafficking Centre was based in Sheffield and was set up as a central point for the development of expertise to tackle the trafficking of human beings.
Its role was to co-ordinate enforcement operations as well as joining up the work of all the agencies involved in the crackdown on human trafficking.
The centre has now moved out of the city and comes under the umbrella of the Serious Organised Crime Agency.
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