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| 2012 Games sex trafficking fears | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The 2012 London Olympics could become a magnet for human traffickers bringing in prostitutes and illegal workers, the government has said. | The 2012 London Olympics could become a magnet for human traffickers bringing in prostitutes and illegal workers, the government has said. |
| The Home Office has unveiled plans to combat gangs who imprison women and force them into the sex trade and push men into forced labour. | The Home Office has unveiled plans to combat gangs who imprison women and force them into the sex trade and push men into forced labour. |
| The UK will allow freed victims to stay for at least 30 days for counselling. | |
| Police Minister Vernon Coaker said human trafficking was "a form of modern-day slavery". | Police Minister Vernon Coaker said human trafficking was "a form of modern-day slavery". |
| 'Exploitation' | 'Exploitation' |
| The Home Office's action plan says: "There is little doubt that there will be many who will seek to prosper from the Olympics being held in London. | The Home Office's action plan says: "There is little doubt that there will be many who will seek to prosper from the Olympics being held in London. |
| "Hospitality, catering and construction workers will be required. Criminal elements are expected to exploit the situation by establishing themselves in London from now on." | "Hospitality, catering and construction workers will be required. Criminal elements are expected to exploit the situation by establishing themselves in London from now on." |
| Frankly it brings tears to your eyes. It simply cannot carry on Vernon CoakerPolice Minister | Frankly it brings tears to your eyes. It simply cannot carry on Vernon CoakerPolice Minister |
| An influx of young male sports fans, such as happened during the 2006 World Cup in Germany, could see a rise in demand for prostitutes, it adds. | |
| The government has signed a European convention giving human trafficking victims more time to recover from their ordeal before deciding whether to help police. | |
| The latest Home Office figures, from 2003, suggest at least 4,000 women from abroad have been forced into prostitution. | The latest Home Office figures, from 2003, suggest at least 4,000 women from abroad have been forced into prostitution. |
| Mr Coaker said: "Frankly it brings tears to your eyes. It simply cannot carry on." | Mr Coaker said: "Frankly it brings tears to your eyes. It simply cannot carry on." |
| 'Rape prosecutions' | 'Rape prosecutions' |
| He said prostitutes' clients could face prosecution for rape: "If we have got a situation where a man knowingly has sex with a woman he knows is not freely consenting to that, then I think that that could be considered as rape." | He said prostitutes' clients could face prosecution for rape: "If we have got a situation where a man knowingly has sex with a woman he knows is not freely consenting to that, then I think that that could be considered as rape." |
| The Home Office action plan calls for specialist trafficking teams to be set up at UK ports and airports. | The Home Office action plan calls for specialist trafficking teams to be set up at UK ports and airports. |
| It is also planning to set up an advice line for police, immigration staff and social workers and a national system to identify victims more quickly. | It is also planning to set up an advice line for police, immigration staff and social workers and a national system to identify victims more quickly. |
| According to reports, "slave auctions" are being staged on the concourses of British airports. | According to reports, "slave auctions" are being staged on the concourses of British airports. |
| Grahame Maxwell, of the UK Human Trafficking Centre, said information programmes were in place in countries like Bulgaria and Romania to prevent people being conned into going abroad. | Grahame Maxwell, of the UK Human Trafficking Centre, said information programmes were in place in countries like Bulgaria and Romania to prevent people being conned into going abroad. |
| One woman, imprisoned and forced to be a prostitute, had been raped 50 times on Christmas Day, the home office report said. | One woman, imprisoned and forced to be a prostitute, had been raped 50 times on Christmas Day, the home office report said. |
| Another had been beaten to death after being held as a domestic slave and made to live in an outhouse, where she suffered from trench foot - caused by damp and wet conditions. | Another had been beaten to death after being held as a domestic slave and made to live in an outhouse, where she suffered from trench foot - caused by damp and wet conditions. |
| Prices | Prices |
| Being forced to have sex 30 times a day was common, Mr Maxwell said. | Being forced to have sex 30 times a day was common, Mr Maxwell said. |
| He added: "The average price for a trafficked woman is £2,000 to £3,000, but up to £8,000 is reported in some cases. | He added: "The average price for a trafficked woman is £2,000 to £3,000, but up to £8,000 is reported in some cases. |
| "We are talking about people here. These are prices that are being paid for individuals. | "We are talking about people here. These are prices that are being paid for individuals. |
| "There was £8,000 charged for two 15-year-old virgins from Lithuania." | "There was £8,000 charged for two 15-year-old virgins from Lithuania." |
| Mr Coaker said trafficked children detected at Heathrow had started "kicking and screaming because they don't believe the police officer is trying to help them. | Mr Coaker said trafficked children detected at Heathrow had started "kicking and screaming because they don't believe the police officer is trying to help them. |
| "They've been so deceived that if they don't get there will be big consequences." | "They've been so deceived that if they don't get there will be big consequences." |
| Criminals had threatened to harm their families at home if they escaped, the government said. | Criminals had threatened to harm their families at home if they escaped, the government said. |
| The decision to sign up to the European agreement has cross-party backing. | The decision to sign up to the European agreement has cross-party backing. |
| Shadow home secretary David Davis said it was necessary for "moral reasons", such as protecting exploited victims, some of whom are forced to have sex with up to 40 men a day. | Shadow home secretary David Davis said it was necessary for "moral reasons", such as protecting exploited victims, some of whom are forced to have sex with up to 40 men a day. |
| Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "Slavery still exists in the UK and we must tackle modern-day slavery wherever we find it. | |
| "The terrible reality is that women and children are falling victim to human trafficking." | |
| There were an 4,000 victims of trafficking working in prostitution in the UK during 2003, according to Home Office estimates. | There were an 4,000 victims of trafficking working in prostitution in the UK during 2003, according to Home Office estimates. |
| It is thought the problem has grown since then. | It is thought the problem has grown since then. |