MPs raise human trafficking concerns

Joint parliamentary committee calls for action on growing problem

News, 13 October 2006

A committee of MPs and peers is calling on the government to tackle the problem of human trafficking into the UK.

An inquiry report published today by the Joint Committee on Human Rights discloses that there were an estimated average of 4,000 people trafficked for prostitution purposes in the country in 2003. There are no reliable figures for those smuggled in illegally for labour exploitation, and an unknown number of children are trafficked for forced domestic service or to work in the drugs trade.

The committee calls the problem a serious human rights issue and points up inconsistencies in Home Office statistics as to the numbers of people involved.

The report also states that whereas 10 years ago 85% of women in brothels were UK citizens, now 85% of them are from outside the UK.

Labour MP and committee chairman Andrew Dismore said the growth and extent of the problem was very worrying, and that women trafficked for prostitution should not be seen as victims and not immigration offenders or criminals themselves.