UK to tackle child trafficking

2004-05-17 16:46

Jane Wardell

London - London's Metropolitan Police said they will create a special protection team to monitor the entry of unaccompanied children into Britain following the release of an official report on Monday that found a number of youngsters who arrived alone are missing from official registers.

Child welfare groups, including Unicef, called for more concerted national action from the government to prevent the abuse of minors who are smuggled into the country.

The Paladin Child report monitored the arrival of minors at London's Heathrow Airport, the country's busiest entry port, between August and November last year.

It identified 1 738 children from non-EU countries who arrived alone. Most were travelling legitimately for education or holidays but a "small number gave cause for concern," the report said.

12 missing

Twelve of the children are still unaccounted for and police are continuing efforts to locate them.

Welfare agencies are concerned that children are being sent to Britain for prostitution or slave labour and recent cases have highlighted such concerns.

Eight-year-old Victoria Climbie died of starvation and hypothermia in February 2000 after months of mistreatment by her great aunt and the aunt's boyfriend, despite regular contact with local authorities and police child protection teams. The girl's parents had sent her, alone, to London from the Ivory Coast in hope of a better life.

Police are still investigating the death of a boy whose torso was found floating in the Thames River in September 2001 and have arrested several people on suspicion of involvement in people trafficking. Police believe the boy, estimated to be aged between five and seven, was the victim of a ritualistic sacrifice after he was brought to Britain illegally from Nigeria.

Metropolitan Police said the new Ports Safeguarding Team of six officers will provide 24-hour specialist child protection advice and support to officials at London Heathrow Airport, London Waterloo Eurostar Terminal and the Lunar House Asylum Screening Unit in Croydon.

The Paladin report, conducted by the Metropolitan Police, UK Immigration Service and government welfare agencies, also recommends that unaccompanied children be subjected to a more stringent interview process by specially trained immigration officers.

Welfare groups said a wider response, co-ordinating efforts between police and social service agencies, was needed.

A separate report by the End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes action group, also released on Monday, found serious shortcomings in the knowledge and care of trafficked children among staff in social security agencies.

"Currently the response from social services, police and immigration is, at best, piecemeal," said David Bull, speaking for Unicef UK "This needs to change. They need increased guidance and support from central government departments. Only the traffickers will win if substantial child protection measures are not put in place."

An Asylum and Immigration Bill that will make people trafficking for all purposes an offence is currently before Parliament.

- AP