§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been of people living in the United Kingdom for offences connected with the trafficking of women in each of the last five years; and of these, how many have been(a) convicted, (b) sentenced to imprisonment and (c) fined or deported. [70120]
§ Beverley HughesAs there is at present no specific offence of trafficking, the police and other law enforcement agencies are not able to say how many people
685Wconnected with the trafficking of women have been prosecuted, convicted, sentenced, fined or deported in the last five years.
The Government is creating a new offence of trafficking for the purposes of controlling someone in prostitution within the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill currently before Parliament. It will carry a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment. This is a stopgap offence pending more wide-ranging offences of trafficking for sexual and labour exploitation when Parliamentary time permits.
In May 2000, we set up Reflex, a multi-agency taskforce on organised immigration crime, including people trafficking. Led by the National Crime Squad (NCS), Reflex brings together all the key agencies from law enforcement, Government and the intelligence community, including the Immigration Service, the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) and police forces such as the Metropolitan Police, Kent Constabulary and the British Transport Police.
Under Reflex, we have set up a joint operational unit comprising NCS and Immigration Service officers with sites at Gatwick and Heathrow. This will provide a significant new capability to respond to allegations of trafficking in women.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the policy is of the Metropolitan Police in combatting the trafficking of people into the London area for work in the sex industry. [70285]
§ Beverley HughesThe Metropolitan Police Service is a member of Reflex, a multi-agency taskforce on organised immigration crime, including people trafficking. Reflex targets the organised criminals involved in the trafficking and smuggling of people.
The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the policy of the Metropolitan Police Service is to work with other agencies in detecting, prosecuting and, where appropriate, rescuing prostitutes, some of whom may have been trafficked, working both on and off the street. In order to tackle associated issues, kerb crawlers and those who affix prostitute cards are also prosecuted. Where there is evidence of trafficking for the purposes of prostitution, this is passed on to Reflex.