§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What the implications of the growing role of Albanian criminal groups in controlling prostitution in London will be for trafficking women for sexual exploitation; and how they will respond to these developments. [HL4128]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalReflex, the National Crime Squad-led multi-agency taskforce, co-ordinates enforcement action on organised immigration crime which includes human trafficking. Reflex takes an intelligence led approach in establishing its priorities and responds accordingly to developing crime trends.
Operation Maxim led by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) was established under Reflex in 2003 and brought together the MPS, the United Kingdom Immigration Service and the United Kingdom Passport Service in a joint approach to tackling serious and organised crime linked to illegal immigration. The MPS has established links with Albanian authorities and have had a number of successes in disrupting Albanian criminal gangs.
The Clubs and Vice Unit of the MPS also has significant experience of working with victims of trafficking and works in close co-operation with Eaves Housing for Women, which provides safe accommodation and other support for victims of trafficking for prostitution in London.
On 16 July the Home Office published Paying the Price, a consultation document on issues related to prostitution. The consultation exercise will form the basis for the development of a co-ordinated strategy to deal with prostitution and will include consideration of the issues surrounding trafficking for the purpose of prostitution. The consultation period runs until 26 November.