Protect victims of trafficking in the UK

'Trafficking in human beings' means the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of people, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, or of deception for the purpose of exploitation.

In the UK, there is particular evidence of cases of trafficked victims in sectors such as the hospitality and catering trade, domestic labour, care sectors, agricultural and food processing sectors, construction and prostitution.

Stop the disbanding of the Human Trafficking Unit The Metropolitan Police Authority are planning to disband the Human Trafficking Unit, the only unit that deals specifically with all forms of trafficking, including forced labour and domestic slavery. Act now

Campaign success: Anti-trafficking convention ratified in UK

Following 3 years of intensive lobbying, campaigning and activism by Amnesty in partnership with other organisations, the UK government has ratified an anti-trafficking convention.

The UK's ratification should mean that for the first time victims of trafficking - including people who have been forced into prostitution - will be entitled to a recovery period, specialist care, accommodation and other services. Find out more | Read the blog

About trafficking

Trafficking does not always involve illegal immigrants - many victims are brought in legally but are exploited when they are here and trafficking is also not the same as people smuggling.

• Read about different cases of trafficking in the UK
• Visit the Helen Bamber Foundation site - working with survivors of cruelty

Trafficking into the UK

Some key facts about trafficking:

• Home Office research found that up to 1,420 women were trafficked into the UK for sexual exploitation in 1998. The figure was based solely on reported cases, and trafficking in people is understood by the police and by organisations that work with victims to be increasing exponentially - because it is extremely profitable, with "high demand" and little capital outlay needed at the start
• Sex in the City, a 2004 report by victims support agency, the Poppy Project, found that women from Eastern Europe, South East Asia and West Africa are known to be trafficked into the UK for sexual exploitation
• Metropolitan police estimate trafficked women forced into prostitution in London see between 20 and 30 men per day
• The Poppy Project is the only dedicated safe house providing specialist support for victims of trafficking in London: it has 25 places.