United Kingdom (UK)
The UK is a significant destination and, to a lesser extent, transit country for women, children, and men trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labour.
Prevention:
The UK government regularly publishes updates to its Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking, which coordinates anti-trafficking efforts nationwide. STOP THE TRAFFIK provides training on
tackling human trafficking, and is also working with the UK’s Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) to raise awareness and prevent human trafficking before, during, and after the 2012 London
Olympic Games.
Prosecution:
Human trafficking is criminalised under both the 2003 Sexual Offences Act and the 2004 Asylum and Immigration Act, with a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment. STOP THE TRAFFIK is
working to map and disrupt local human trafficking through Active Communities against Trafficking (ACT), the information from which will be given to local authorities and police forces.
Protection:
The UK government funds the POPPY Project and Migrant Helpline to provide support to human trafficking victims. Other organisations provide additional support. The UK Human Trafficking
Centre (UKHTC) publishes monthly data on the number of human trafficking victims identified and referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) in the UK.
Developments:
- The 2009 Borders, Citizenship, and Immigration Act amends the 2004 Asylum and Immigration Act so that traffickers of infants can now be prosecuted for trafficking offences.
- The 2009 Policing and Crime Bill is going through parliament, which would criminalise people who pay for sexual services from a trafficking victim.
- The UK Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking is due to be updated by the end of summer 2009.