PressTV - Human trafficking soars in N. Ireland

Wed Jan 19, 2011 11:41AM

Police in Northern Ireland have warned that human trafficking, as a money-making industry, is on the rise.

Human trafficking is a developing crime in Northern Ireland with vulnerable foreign nationals forced into slavery and prostitution, according to police, who said that 15 victims were rescued between April and December last year and 4 people charged with links to their case.

“We very much see this as a crime that is developing in Northern Ireland. It is a worrying trend. This is about the exploitation of human beings,” said Detective Chief Superintendent Roy McComb, head of the organised crime branch.

In a bid to tackle the growing problem, a cross-border campaign, called the 'Blue Blindfold Campaign', has been launched to inform the public of the dangers posed by the trade.

Justice Minister David Ford, who launched the campaign, stated that he hopes it helps "open eyes to this heinous crime and that people realise it could be happening in a location near them.”

The Blue Blindfold campaign will run in Northern Ireland for the next three months.

Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern has separately begun a public information campaign.

"The trafficking of human beings for sexual and/or labor exploitation or the removal of organs is a most serious offence that has no place across the island of Ireland. We are very committed to taking a strong approach to jointly combating this crime and urge all members of the public to assist us in this task," said Ahern.

MOL/TG/

PressTV - Human trafficking soars in N. Ireland

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Northern Ireland News - Human Trafficking Tackled By NIO

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23 February 2010

Organised crime gangs are making huge profits by trafficking people into Northern Ireland for labour and sexual exploitation.

It has emerged today that far from being immune to such activities, the Chair of the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) Paul Goggins said that criminal gangs are already using NI for trafficking people - for both labour and as sex workers.

While it also emerged that police had just shut down a brothel in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, the NIO Minister was speaking at the launch of the 'Blue Blindfold' campaign to raise public awareness on the issue.

"Experience tells us that organised crime gangs are trafficking people into Northern Ireland for both labour and sexual exploitation.

"They view these vulnerable people as commodities, to be bought and sold for a quick profit and sentenced to a life of misery and we must do everything possible to stop them.

"The Government, through our work with Women's Aid and Migrant Helpline, offers rescued victims of human trafficking care packages including medical support, legal advice and safe and secure accommodation," the NIO Minister said.

As the PSNI revealed that officers had closed the suspected Enniskillen 'house of ill repute' in Old Rossorry Park on Friday after receiving reports of suspicious activity, Mr Goggins continued: "We must do more and through the Blue Blindfold information campaign, we are raising awareness of the issue.

"The most valuable asset in combating crime is information and we are asking everyone to open their eyes to the fact that human trafficking is happening in Northern Ireland.

"If they suspect something, contact the police and perhaps your call could rescue a victim of human trafficking and put those responsible before the courts," he urged

South Belfast MLA Anna Lo also attended the launch along with frontline staff from health and social services and representatives of the education, religious, voluntary and community sectors and the PSNI.

Alliance MLA Anna Lo said: "I am very pleased that the NIO is hosting this event. By its nature, Human Trafficking is a secretive and hidden crime and there is a need to raise awareness amongst the public that this type of modern day slavery is happening here on our doorsteps," she commented.

Blue Blindfold is an international campaign designed by the UK Human Trafficking Centre.

The campaign formally launched in December 2007 and has received support from the ‘All Party Parliamentary Group on Trafficking in 2008’.

The logo is fast becoming an internationally recognised symbol of help for victims. Further information can be found at: www.blueblindfold.co.uk

(BMcC/GK)
Northern Ireland News - Human Trafficking Tackled By NIO

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MEPs launch new bid to protect victims of modern slave trade (Hodge Hill Liberal Democrats)

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2.40.25pm GMT Wed 25th Nov 2009

Liz Lynne hopes the new Declaration calling for action to protect victims will help police make successful prosecutions of suspected traffickers. She supported the police's Blue Blindfold campaign to report suspected trafficking

Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne has launched a new bid in the European Parliament to step up action against human trafficking gangs and to protect the victims of the modern day slave trade.

The MEP for the West Midlands region has teamed up with three other Euro MPs to launch a Written Declaration in the Parliament calling for Britain and other EU Member States to allow victims of trafficking gangs or forced labour to have access to temporary residence permits while they rebuild their lives and see if they can help prosecute the criminals that exploited them.

The Declaration, which calls on countries to opt in to Council Directive 2004/81/EC of 29 April 2004, also urges coordinated schemes to help victims who want to go back to their home country.

The MEPs are also urging all EU countries to sign up to and ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking of Human Beings.

Liz Lynne said: "I believe a new EU Parliament Declaration is needed to encourage further international action against human trafficking and the modern slave trade, which the UN estimates affects 12.3 million people worldwide. There are credible estimates that between 600 000 to 800 000 men, women and children are trafficked across international borders each year and many are forced into prostitution.

"I hope as many MEPs as possible will sign up to this Declaration to show that this Parliament will not tolerate a modern slave trade or forced labour in Europe, or indeed anywhere else. We need 369 signatures from MEPs in order to adopt the declaration and get a debate held.

"The Council of Europe Convention on Trafficking concentrates more on the victim and every EU state needs to ratify it. We need more co-ordinated international action against this evil and an increased focus on helping the victims, not less.

"EU member states must also implement Directive 2004/81 on residence permits for the victims of trafficking; the UK has still not opted into this - that way convictions for trafficking will be easier to obtain."

Liz Lynne has campaigned against human trafficking for many years, as shadow rapporteur for a European Parliament report, the author of written declaration and parliamentary questions on the issue.

ENDS

http://www.hodgehill.libdems.org.uk/news/000097/meps_launch_new_bid_to_protect_victims_of_modern_slave_trade.html