Sex trafficking in Scotland: Fears gangs will bring in foreign prostitutes for 2014 Commonwealth Games

There are worries Glasgow could be flooded with foreign prostitutes ahead of 2014 Commonwealth Games


THE 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow could become a magnet for sex traffickers, Scotland's leading human rights lawyer has warned.


Baroness Helena Kennedy said the event will attract a crowd of sports fans seeking prostitutes while away from home.


The 61-year-old launched the findings of her inquiry into human trafficking in Scotland in Edinburgh yesterday.
She said: "These type of big sporting events are used as a cover for all kinds of criminal activity."


The findings of her inquiry criticise the short-fall in public or professional awareness in Scotland of human trafficking and says police have a "significant" intelligence gap on the problem.


The report looks into all aspects of human trafficking but focuses on "commercial sexual exploitation".
Baroness Kennedy said: "With large sporting events like the Commonwealth Games, you get more people coming into the country and the border controls become softer.


"The police have told me the increase in cheap flights makes it easier for groups of men to travel abroad to sporting events and stag parties.


"This is known as the gang of guys phenomena - where men are more likely to try things they wouldn't at home.


"The criminal gangs know this and foreign prostitutes are trafficked into the area for major e Commonweal for major events like the Commonwealth Games.


"But as we saw at the Athens Olympics in 2004, the prostitutes do not leave the area. This is something the Olympic committee in London are very alert to."


She added: "There's nothing new in Scottish men using prostitutes for sex but they are now looking for foreign women as a result of trips abroad.


"The internet also provides easy opportunities. Even if you live in Auchtermuchty, you're only a few clicks away from getting what you want."


The baroness said the Scottish government and police had to act quickly to stop the traffickers. She said: "The authorities must take immediate action.


"I first encountered this problem in London 25 years ago when the Yardie gangsters teamed up with local criminals. The criminals in London, who were mainly into armed robbery, realised robbing banks was no longer viable and money was to be made from drugs.


"But they needed to link up with criminals from abroad who could get the drugs - that's where the Yardies came in.


"The drugs started to flood into the UK and with that came a big increase in the use of guns - then the girls followed. The same thing will happen in Scotland and we already know that gangs from Eastern Europe have joined forces with domestic criminals."


Latest figures show Scotland had 134 victims of human trafficking from April 2009 to December 2010. It is estimated Scotland will have around 75 victims of trafficking a year.


Five countries - Nigeria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, China and Somalia - accounted for 65 per cent of Scotland's trafficked women.


One gang were earning around £2million a year running 10 brothels.


http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2011/11/29/sex-trafficking-in-scotland-fears-gangs-will-bring-in-foreign-prostitutes-for-2014-commonwealth-games-86908-23596549/

Joseph Rowntree Foundation reseach forced labour among Chinese migrant workers

The study by Carolyn Kagan et al., published on the 1st November, asks "How are Chinese migrant workers exploited at work, and why are they vulnerable to forced labour?" It seeks to answer this by examining the experiences of 32 Chinese migrant workers, primarily working in the hospitality and catering businesses.


The report reveals the range of exploitation, and finds that many of the migrant workers end up working very long hours for pay well below the minimum wage. It identifies the interactions of migraton, work and family and analyses why low-skilled migrant workers from China are vulnerable to forced labour. The authors conclude that 'government, business regulators, trade unions, Chinese businesses and community organisations could take inter-related actions to improve conditions for Chinese migrant workers'.

From providing a strict definition of forced labour to the identification of the family as a source of support and pressure through to their direct proposals for improving the situation, this research proves interesting and is well worth a read.

Click here for the report.

Fears that Olympics will see a significant increase in labour exploitation

Mick Clarke, the director of the Passage Day Centre in London, spoke in The Guardian of his worries about 2012: "There's this myth, even with the economy as it is now, that people believe you can come to London and the streets are paved with gold. But unless you've got a firm offer of a job, don't come."

The centre receives one report a week of eastern Europeans being exploited by criminal gangs. Mike Nicholas, a spokesman for Thames Reach, says that ‘criminal gangs have been exploiting people in shocking ways tantamount to modern-day slavery.’

The Serious Organized Crime Agency is now investigating several such cases, and 31 people have been arrested in relation to one specific scam that has been under investigation for two years by customs officers and Polish police. This gang had trafficked over 200 people to the UK and carried out approximately £2 million in benefit fraud. (You can read more about this here.)

Gedimanas Rekesius, a victim of trafficking to the UK for work, described his experiences: "For five months I asked when I would get a job, but all I did was clean their home. They were always sending me to the shop to buy them meals, Pampers for the children, that sort of thing. I felt if I said no, there would be big problems."

"I want people to know what happened to me. I will find it hard to trust anyone again."

There could not be more chilling and compelling evidence that we must pressure the government to do more about trafficking and modern slavery. You can sign our Slavery-Free London pledge here and read more about the campaign here.

Significant Support for a Slavery-Free London

On Anti-Slavery Day, Russell Squre was lively with music, talks and performance. The event was well attended, and people have let me know that they had a great time. Our events throughout the day also facilitated a show of solidarity from some high profile figures who stood alongside our campaign to end slavery and trafficking in the capital.

Kit Malthouse, the Deputy Mayor for Policing, came along to the festivities at Russell Square and signed our Slavery-Free London campaign petition.

Rushnara Ali MP spoke out in support of our Slavery-Free London campaign and encouraged students to sign the petition at our inaugural young people’s conference.

Read more about the campaign here. Sign the petition here.

The risk of increased trafficking for the 2012 games

EU officials have raised concerns that the London Olympics and Euro 2012 could cause a “spike” in prostitution and human trafficking.

Myria Vassiliadou, the EU’s anti-trafficking coordinator, said this week that “sporting events are a hub for criminal gangs.”

It appears that, in the past, major sporting events have contributed to issues of human trafficking. In 2010, before the World Cup staged in South Africa, the Daily Telegraph reported that “40,000 prostitutes bound for South Africa”. Similarly, in 2006, Polish nuns in Berlin were handing out leaflets warning that “100,000” Central and Eastern European women were being trafficked to Germany.

The industries that typically use forced labourers are those that rely on temporary, low-paid, low-skilled work like construction, cleaning, hospitality, food processing and packaging. These are all industries that will likely see demand rise on the run up to and during the London Olympic Games and the Euro 2012, and may turn to trafficked workers to meet and profit from this.

The EU has stated that although combating trafficking largely rests with the individual nations, as Brussels is left with little power to crack down on it, it seeks to raise awareness of the problem. In light of this, we must encourage the UK government to do more to deal with trafficking issues now, during the Olympics and in the future. You can sign our pledge for a Slavery-Free London and read more about the campaign.

http://www.thenews.pl/1/5/Artykul/57073,Euro-2012-to-attract-human-traffickers

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jGSTAD0XcvoqOUKZn3Ytd9Wq7wsw?docId=6e5849e3f203426a87ffd0aa9be24394

Students shout for a Slavery-Free London on Anti-Slavery Day

Oaks Park High support Slavery Free London

Tuesday (the 18^th October) marked the second Anti-Slavery day in the United Kingdom. Created last year through a parliamentary bill championed by former MP and now chairman of the Human Trafficking Foundation, Anthony Steen, the day provides a focal point for raising awareness around issues of slavery and trafficking. We hosted events around the country, and I had the pleasure of being present at our Inaugural Young People’s Conference.

Baroness Lola Young of Hornsey answers student's questions

 

As the morning sun shone, students from Oaks Park High School, Woodhouse College and Cherwell School shuffled into the Museum of London Docklands to spend the day learning about and discussing issues of slavery, as well as techniques for campaigning and other ways that they can take action. I was both pleased and inspired by the interest those attending demonstrated. They were engaging with and challenging the speakers, asking critical questions and getting actively involved with our campaigns. 

Oaks Park High student takes centre stage

The reality of slavery in our capital is an issue that they took very seriously. Some already knew about trafficking, and in a witty but saddening answer to the Human Trafficking Centre’s James Behan’s question, ‘Where are people trafficked from?’, one of the year nine children from Oak’s Park High School accurately replied ‘everywhere.’ Toward the end of the conference, all of the attendees got together to write a personal message on and sign our A3 pledge for a Slavery Free London.

The Slavery Free London A3 pledge

Elsewhere on Anti-Slavery Day, others were also getting involved. Russell Square was alive with music, performance and talks to mark the day between 11am and 3pm. People that came along had a great time and many of them were keen to act, taking time to sign our Slavery Free London petition.

You can get involved, too: learn about slavery in London today, read the personal stories of two victims and sign our pledge.

NEW exhibition highlights slavery in London ahead of 2012!

In partnership with Anti-Slavery International, Freedom From: Modern slavery in the capital explores the personal impact of human trafficking and slavery in 21st century London and the challenges faced in tackling it, particularly in light of the upcoming London 2012 Olympic Games.

At the Museum of London (London Wall) a map representing cases of slavery across Greater London is displayed as well as personal testimonies of those affected by slavery and a photographic display. At the Museum of London Docklands a survivors' quilt is displayed with patches created by women who have been trafficked.


Please go visit and get involved with the campaign for a Slavery-Free London! 

Date: Until 20th November
Venue: Museum of London and Museum of London in Docklands
Entry: FREE
Click here for further information