Human Trafficking Tackled By NIO

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)