03/10/2007

Campaign Launched Against Sex Trafficking

A new campaign against criminals who force trafficked women into the sex trade has been launched by police across Britain and the Irish Republic.

All 55 police forces will take part in the project, named Pentameter 2, and will target the the gang masters who force women and children to work in the sex industry.

It will also aim to help victims and public awareness of the problem.

The operation follows an initial four-month campaign which led to more than 200 arrests and rescued children as young as 14 who had been forced into sex slavery. Officers executed warrants in 515 brothels, massage parlours, private homes and other premises during the previous project.

Gloucestershire Chief Constable Tim Brain said at the first Pentameter launch that punters who reported possible cases to Crimestoppers would not face prosecution.

Trafficked women can be forced to have sex with up to 40 strangers a day after being brought to the British Isles under the false impression that they would be working in legitimate jobs, police said.

(CD)

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