"Remember sex trafficking victims are not criminals" says MEP

4.55.01pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 21st Jun 2006

Liz Lynne MEP, long time campaigner against human trafficking, today welcomed the announcement of a dedicated national police task force to help the victims of the sex trafficking industry, but warned that the government is potentially undermining this by not allowing victims to stay in the UK for a 6-month rehabilitation period.

Commenting after the police announcement Liz Lynne said:

"Whilst I welcome the new police task force and wish them every success in their attempts to fight this abhorrent trade, I would strongly urge the government to implement the European Council directive on residence permits for victims of sex trafficking. This obliges member states to allow trafficked peoples to stay for an initial six-month period. The UK has currently opted out of this, which is entirely unacceptable."

"If we send the victims of sex trafficking straight back to the country that they came from then there is a good chance they will fall victim to the gangs of traffickers once again. We must remember that we are dealing with victims and not criminals and treat them accordingly."

The national police task force comes in the wake of Operation Pentameter, a nationwide four-month project that has seen 200 arrests and 80 sex slave victims freed.

ENDS

Notes to editors

1.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5100910.stm

2. On 29 April 2004, the EU Council Directive (2004/81/EC) on the residence permit issued to third-country nationals who are victims of trafficking in human beings or who have been the subject of an action to facilitate illegal immigration who co-operate with the competent authorities, entered into force.

All EU states are obliged to bring their national law into line with the Directive before 6 August 2006, except those, like the UK, which have negotiated an "opt out" from this type of EU legislation.