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| People-trafficking centre opens | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Europe's first dedicated centre for victims of people trafficking has opened in Sheffield. | |
| The Human Trafficking Centre will aim to provide specialist care for the victims - mostly women brought from abroad and forced into prostitution. | The Human Trafficking Centre will aim to provide specialist care for the victims - mostly women brought from abroad and forced into prostitution. |
| To be run by South Yorkshire Police, the facility is the first of its kind in the UK, where academics and experts will tackle trafficking under one roof. | |
| There are thought to be hundreds of trafficked women in the UK. | |
| 'Heinous crime' | 'Heinous crime' |
| Specially trained police, lawyers and immigration officials will work at the facility. | Specially trained police, lawyers and immigration officials will work at the facility. |
| They will continue the work of Operation Pentameter - the UK's first national campaign to target human trafficking in the sex industry. | They will continue the work of Operation Pentameter - the UK's first national campaign to target human trafficking in the sex industry. |
| The centre has the potential to subvert traffickers using the UK as a destination country Poppy Project spokeswoman href="/1/hi/uk/5402386.stm" class="">'I was trafficked at 15' | |
| But the Sheffield centre will also deal with trafficking involving labour exploitation, children and domestic servants. | But the Sheffield centre will also deal with trafficking involving labour exploitation, children and domestic servants. |
| Deputy Chief Constable Graham Maxwell called trafficking a "heinous crime" and said the facility would take a "victim-centred approach". | |
| "So that when a person is discovered who has been trafficked, that first point of contact is a positive one and we have the right support mechanisms in place to look after their welfare." | "So that when a person is discovered who has been trafficked, that first point of contact is a positive one and we have the right support mechanisms in place to look after their welfare." |
| OPERATION PENTAMETER 515 properties raided in UK and Ireland84 women rescued including 12 children Women were from Africa, Malaysia, Thailand and eastern Europe More than £300,000 cash recovered232 arrests made134 charges brought | OPERATION PENTAMETER 515 properties raided in UK and Ireland84 women rescued including 12 children Women were from Africa, Malaysia, Thailand and eastern Europe More than £300,000 cash recovered232 arrests made134 charges brought |
| He said many of the victims had been forced into the sex industry and had effectively been raped up to 30 times a day. | |
| Some did not even know which country they were in. | |
| Experts at the Sheffield centre will also offer training to police forces across the country. | Experts at the Sheffield centre will also offer training to police forces across the country. |
| The Poppy Project, which provides support and accommodation to women who have been trafficked for the purposes of prostitution, welcomed the centre. | The Poppy Project, which provides support and accommodation to women who have been trafficked for the purposes of prostitution, welcomed the centre. |
| A spokeswoman said: "The centre has the potential to subvert traffickers using the UK as a destination country. | A spokeswoman said: "The centre has the potential to subvert traffickers using the UK as a destination country. |
| "It also sends a message to the women on the Poppy scheme that the UK will implement measures to protect and value women who are victims of human trafficking." | "It also sends a message to the women on the Poppy scheme that the UK will implement measures to protect and value women who are victims of human trafficking." |
| 'Beaten and raped' | |
| Solicitor General Mike O' Brien opened the centre at a secret location in the city on Tuesday. | |
| He said: "Most trafficked victims in the UK come from Eastern Europe or the Far East, but they can arrive from anywhere in the world. | |
| "Some victims do not even realise they are being trafficked until they arrive and find that the job of a waitress is really enforced servitude as a prostitute, including being beaten and raped." | |
| Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker also toured the new facility and met the staff. |