This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6426353.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Human trafficking squad launched Human trafficking squad launched
(about 2 hours later)
A dedicated police unit aimed at cracking down on human trafficking to London is being launched. A dedicated police unit aimed at cracking down on human trafficking to London has been launched.
Many of those trafficked to the UK are women lured with promises of jobs who are then forced to work in brothels.Many of those trafficked to the UK are women lured with promises of jobs who are then forced to work in brothels.
The new team will be the first specialist unit within the Metropolitan Police to tackle organised criminal networks behind the trafficking. The new team will be the first specialist unit within the Metropolitan Police to tackle the organised criminal networks behind the trafficking.
As well as tackling the criminals, the unit will also work with charities and voluntary groups to help victims. The 11-strong unit will also work with charities and voluntary groups to help victims.
It is estimated thousands of women, many from Eastern Europe and the Far East, have been trafficked to the UK. It is estimated thousands of women and men, many from Eastern Europe and the Far East, have been trafficked to the UK to work in the sex trade and other forms of forced labour, such as on farms.
The unit, funded by the Home Office, has launched a fact-finding mission to Lithuania, which says the UK is the number on destination for human traffickers operating within its borders. Police admit though that the true scale of the problem is unclear.
Intelligence picture 'Hugely lucrative'
Eleven officers will work on the trafficking team. They are from backgrounds including the clubs and vice unit, a murder inquiry unit, a kidnap unit and London's Heathrow airport. Det Supt Mark Pointing, from the Met, described trafficking as "a hugely lucrative business" with women being sold for as much as £8,000.
Detective Inspector Sally Jeffrey, operational head of the team, said: "We will build up our intelligence to get a better picture of what is going on. The new unit, he said, will therefore focus on the financial activities of the traffickers, for example, by disrupting money laundering operations.
"We are also trying to get the trust of the victims - they may have had threats made against them, they may not speak English and they may not trust the police. "We want to transfer the fear from the victims, and that fear is enormous, to the networks themselves, so they know there's a unit out there targeting them," Det Supt Ponting said.
"We say to people who may be visiting brothels with these women in - just think about it a little bit more." They are duped and coerced with promises of a much better life Commander Sue Wilkinson class="" href="/1/hi/uk/5295684.stm">'Lured by dream offer'
Dr Igoris Bazylevas, from the Lithuanian Ministry of Information, said hiscountry had fully recognised the problem of trafficking for the past five years. The team's officers come from various backgrounds including the clubs and vice unit, a murder squad, a kidnap unit and London's Heathrow airport.
The UK had become the main target for traffickers since Lithuania joined the EU, he said. The team will also aim to build greater trust with victims themselves.
"A year ago, two thirds of girls were trafficked into Great Britain," hesaid. Commander Sue Wilkinson said: "These people have a really torrid time of it," "They are duped and coerced with promises of a much better life, a good job, a good marriage, and they really don't know better most of them."
"The situation is slightly changing and women are going to Ireland,Germany, Scandinavia and Spain. 'Trauma'
"But Great Britain is still number one. Before the EU expansion, the bestmoney could be made in Germany. When we joined the EU, better money was found in England." Ideally, victims would go on to testify against their captors in court, but in reality this can be difficult to achieve.
Operation Pentameter, run last year to combat sex trafficking, rescued 84 women across the UK, but did not result in as many prosecutions as police had hoped.
Sex trafficking in the UK Women can be sold for £6-8,000She can earn her captors as much as £800 a day from sex workThe youngest girl discovered so far was 14
Det Supt Pointing said: "You have to remember the trauma and difficulties of the victims.
"Yes, there was some loss (from Pentameter) in terms of convictions, but that shouldn't be a deterrent to the work that's being undertaken."
And he added that British men who use prostitutes are "key partners" who can provide information about women at risk.
The unit, funded by the Home Office, has also launched a fact-finding mission to Lithuania, one of the key source countries for people trafficked to the UK.
Dr Igoris Bazylevas, from the Lithuanian Ministry of Information, said his country had fully recognised the problem of trafficking for the past five years.
"Before the EU expansion, the best money could be made in Germany. When we joined the EU, better money was found in England," he added.