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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Trafficking law delays 'must end' | Trafficking law delays 'must end' |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Ministers are accused of "betraying" human trafficking victims by delaying ratification of a European treaty. | Ministers are accused of "betraying" human trafficking victims by delaying ratification of a European treaty. |
| Shadow home secretary David Davis said the government had signed the treaty to "great fanfare" last year - but as yet had no plans to ratify it. | Shadow home secretary David Davis said the government had signed the treaty to "great fanfare" last year - but as yet had no plans to ratify it. |
| The treaty allows victims time to recover and consider testifying rather than being immediately deported. | |
| The Home Office says it has introduced anti-trafficking laws and will ratify the treaty as soon as possible. | |
| The government says research suggests 4,000 women in the UK are working in areas of sexual exploitation and may have been trafficked - or moved by force or deception with the aim of exploiting them. | The government says research suggests 4,000 women in the UK are working in areas of sexual exploitation and may have been trafficked - or moved by force or deception with the aim of exploiting them. |
| Safe houses | Safe houses |
| The Conservatives say the conviction rate for trafficking is down 40% on the previous year and there are still no convictions for labour exploitation. | The Conservatives say the conviction rate for trafficking is down 40% on the previous year and there are still no convictions for labour exploitation. |
| Mr Davis outlined various measures the Conservatives would take, such as increasing the number of places at safe houses and changing rules to allow support groups to help trafficked children aged 16 to 18. | Mr Davis outlined various measures the Conservatives would take, such as increasing the number of places at safe houses and changing rules to allow support groups to help trafficked children aged 16 to 18. |
| We are betraying the victims of this appalling trade, including some of the most vulnerable in our society David DavisConservatives Blair to sign trafficking treaty | We are betraying the victims of this appalling trade, including some of the most vulnerable in our society David DavisConservatives Blair to sign trafficking treaty |
| And he said an anti-trafficking campaign involving every police force in the UK and Ireland - Operation Pentameter - should be made permanent. | And he said an anti-trafficking campaign involving every police force in the UK and Ireland - Operation Pentameter - should be made permanent. |
| The Conservatives say the European Convention Against Human Trafficking, signed by the government in March 2007, could help increase convictions for human trafficking. | The Conservatives say the European Convention Against Human Trafficking, signed by the government in March 2007, could help increase convictions for human trafficking. |
| But Mr Davis said while the convention had been signed "amidst great fanfare last year", the government "doesn't even have a plan or timetable for ratification". | But Mr Davis said while the convention had been signed "amidst great fanfare last year", the government "doesn't even have a plan or timetable for ratification". |
| Residence permits | Residence permits |
| He added: "In the meantime, this dreadful problem continues, the traffickers increasingly operate with impunity and we are betraying the victims of this appalling trade, including some of the most vulnerable in our society." | He added: "In the meantime, this dreadful problem continues, the traffickers increasingly operate with impunity and we are betraying the victims of this appalling trade, including some of the most vulnerable in our society." |
| He added: "We call on the government to honour its commitment to become a party to the convention without delay." | He added: "We call on the government to honour its commitment to become a party to the convention without delay." |
| The convention covers a range of measures, including 30-day residence permits to victims to allow them to recover from their ordeal and reflect on whether they will help police prosecute offenders. | The convention covers a range of measures, including 30-day residence permits to victims to allow them to recover from their ordeal and reflect on whether they will help police prosecute offenders. |
| We are determined to get the arrangements right before we ratify Home Office spokeswoman | |
| There had been some fears this could be open to abuse by people making false claims of being trafficking victims to remain in the country. | There had been some fears this could be open to abuse by people making false claims of being trafficking victims to remain in the country. |
| A Home Office spokeswoman said the government had already introduced "wide ranging" anti-trafficking laws as well as setting up the Serious Organised Crime Agency and the UK Human Trafficking Centre. | |
| She added: "We have signed the Council of Europe Convention and will ratify as soon as we can. We are determined to get the arrangements right before we ratify. | |
| "This involves widespread consultation and primary and secondary legislation. This is not unique to the UK. Most other EU countries are in a similar position." | |
| The treaty is due to come into force in ten countries in February. |