The British slave trade!

[Winston]

We saw the light, how come Eastern Europeans still think it is OK?

And are allowed to do it in Britain?

[Winston]

Hundreds of women imported into Britain for a life of prostitution will be given help to escape their pimps under new government plans.

Ministers are horrified at the escalating practice of trafficking women for sex, vowing to clamp down on the "ruthless" criminal gangs that carry out the trade.

It is feared that up to 700 women a year are being smuggled into Britain to work in a network of "off-street" brothels in London and other major cities.

This week, Home Office Minister Barbara Roche is to speak at the first British conference on the trafficking of women for sexual exploitation.

She will unveil plans being considered by the Government to set up a special unit to provide protection for foreign women who have been brought to Britain, are indebted to those that brought them here and have nowhere else to turn. The new body, with Government backing, would work with the police to find trafficked women and give them the support they need.

The Home Office is also committed to working with the authorities in other countries to halt the supply of women.

The conference, at the Barbican in London on Thursday, will discuss the findings of a Home Office-commissioned report into the crime by academics at the University of North London.

It discovered that women are being brought into Britain via ever-changing routes from South America, South-east Asia, Central and Eastern Europe and East and West Africa.

Some are abducted, others are deceived into thinking they are coming to a rich Western country where they can find legitimate work or will be employed in entertainment, dancing or stripping. On arrival, they can find themselves without papers, under virtual house-arrest and in debt for between £5,000 and £15,000. The women see precious little of their takings and are effectively trapped and sometimes prevented from escaping by physical and sexual violence.

Ms Roche told the Independent on Sunday last night: "It is a very worrying area. There are other countries which are seeing worse examples than we are, but it is a growing problem here and there are pretty ruthless gangs involved, preying on vulnerable women kept in awful conditions."

The Minister said the Government would be working closely with the police to stamp out this new brand of organised crime and was in touch with the authorities in other countries to try to stem the tide of women being trafficked for sex.

"Some of the gangs which were once involved with drugs are now turning to trafficking people," she said.

The report showed that 71 women had been identified as having being trafficked into prostitution in the UK in 1998 but, with police approval, it estimated a "hidden" total of 10 times that number being trafficked each year.

A special body to provide support for women wanting to escape exploitation is also under consideration. Ms Roche said: "The idea is to set up a special unit to cater for women that have found themselves in this position."

The Minister said she was "extremely concerned" about the problem, saying the conference would be the first step to ensuring there was "proper concerted action" to tackle it.

[clansman]

I truly wish i could believe politicians when they say they will do summin aboot this dreadful trade in vunerable lassies...ma problem is..i reckon hauf of fvking Westminster will be their customers!A parcel of rogues !!

[Guest]

its always gone on and nothing was said...
so im glad they are making it very public.
here in britain.


i got a job years ago ...when i was 17...in america..and i was thrilled
until my uncle inquired about it all asking for an address where i would be going to...none was given...except calafornia vagely.

i have read stories from other girls in america and dubia...passports are taken from you and keep locked away.

another friend went to italy again to look after children..
after 3months ..her bags were packed and she was told she was no longer needed and just put out...regardless of a contract being signed. she was stranded in italy with no money.
fortunately she knew an italian bloke slightly...who at times she had a coffee with..this was in rome ...he spoke no english...she hung around until she saw him...he took her to his home...which then in the 60s was terrible but at least she had a place to stay.

[Winston]

You may have a point Clans!

[Lilysue]

Clans i hope you're wrong, the men who use these girls for sex are just as bad as the traffickers who bring them here imo!

[Winston]

They are Lily!!............Without doubt!

[clansman]

i hope i'm wrong as well lilysue..i really do..

[Guest]

i know a woman who has worked for the last 15years on the streets of southampton...handing out comdoms to these women. inside ...hidden is a tiny note ...giving them an address and phone number for help.

many times she has been pushed around by blacks and p.a.k.i.s.
to see what she was doing...no they havent found out about the notes.
but she has been hurt and her comdoms scattered over the streets.
many people have listened to her...telling what she has seen over the years...i doubt very much whether this lastest claim will have any backing....its been going on for years.
oh i forgot to mention chinese AND english too!