Southall Black Sisters Demonstration 17th and 18th July 2008 from 9.30am onwards at the High Court on the Strand

Posted on July 5, 2008
Filed Under BME, Demonstration March, Funding, Legal, London, Violence Against Women, Women's Group

Many of you are already aware that SBS has been locked in struggle against Ealing Council with regard to its decision to withdraw funding for our domestic violence services for black and minority women.

On 17 and 18 July 2008, the High Court will hear a challenge brought by SBS users against Ealing Council for its failure to have proper regard to existing equality legislation, especially the Race Relations Act, in reaching its decision on their funding. The Council will seek to justify its decision on the grounds that a generic domestic violence service will be better placed to meet requirements of the equality legislation and the so called ‘cohesion’ agenda.

For further details contact SBS
Phone: 0208 571 9595
Email: Southallblacksisters@btconnect.com

Southall Black Sisters is under threat of closure

We are writing to you to request support for our organisation. We are currently facing threat of closure as a result of our local authority’s (Ealing) decision to withdraw our funding as of April 2008.

Since the mid eighties our ‘core’ funding has been provided by Ealing. Over the years we have on average received £100,000 per annum from the local authority and this is utilised to provide advice, advocacy, counselling and support services to black and minority women in the borough who experience violence and abuse. The experience and insights gained through this work has led us to become a strategically important service, providing advice on policy and legal developments to government, and international, national and local organisations and professionals. The Ealing grant has, of course, had to be supplemented by funds raised elsewhere.

The local authority’s decision is based on the view that there is no need for specialist services for black and minority women and that services to abused women in the borough need to be streamlined. This view fails to take account of the unequal social, economic and cultural context which makes it difficult, if not impossible, for black and minority women to access outside help or seek information about their rights. In effect the council proposes to take away essential life saving services provided by SBS. Ealing council suggests that we either extend our service to cover the needs of all women in the borough or that we set up a consortium of groups to provide such a service for the same sum of money. The amount of funds available to the voluntary sector in Ealing has shrunk year in, year out, but the withdrawal of funds to SBS will have a number of far reaching consequences:

We also need to address the new challenges posed by immigration and asylum difficulties, growing racism and religious intolerance. But without adequate funding, SBS is now in danger of closing down.

Current Position

Following legal action, we have compelled Ealing Council to carry out a race equality impact assessment. This had not been undertaken prior to making a decision to withdraw our funding.

Although the Council has now undertaken such an assessment, it is only in relation to the new domestic violence policy. In other words it only assesses whether or not all women ‘may’ be able to access the new service. The Council maintains that withdrawing funding from SBS will have no adverse consequences for black and minority women! The assessment is also flawed since it does not consider the consequences for black and minority women if SBS services are cut or closed. We have submitted detailed representations pointing out the flaws in their assessment procedure with a view to taking further legal action if necessary, Over 50 users of our services have also written to the Council protesting at their high handed decision.

Your Support

The issues raised by the Council’s actions have wider ramifications for all black and minority women’s organisations. It is imperative that we act now. We ask you to write to the leader of Ealing Council, Jason Stacey whose details are to be found on the model letter that follows.

We would be grateful for any support that you can give us. If you do not have time to draft a letter, please find enclosed a model letter which you may amend as you see fit. Please also let us have a copy of your letter and any reply that you receive.

If you are able to support us in any other way please contact us. We look forward to your response.

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See Southall Black Sisters get injunction to temporarliy stop Ealing Council funding cut

Feminism and the Tube

Posted on July 5, 2008
Filed Under Campaign, Employment Work, Equality, Feminism, London, Women's Group

So, why is the tube cleaner’s plight a feminist issue? Well, for a start most tube cleaners are women and Feminist Fightback feel that cleaning has been underpaid and devalued as a ‘women’s industry’, reports Alex Iossifidis

Most readers inside London will have heard of the tube cleaners strike. Some will have been inconvenienced and annoyed. A few will have picked up the rubbish on order of the intercom. Others, however, will have actively littered in solidarity with the cleaners. These others count Feminist Fightback among their ranks; a diverse group of feminists dedicated to women’s liberation and a democratic, classless society. They are a fairly new group, with a founding conference in 2006, and are news to a feminist scene which has lacked presence in the workplace in recent years. A tube worker and group member explained that “lots of activism hasn’t really been concerned with working class women’s issues” but now Feminist Fightback are “filling the gap”.

So, why is the tube cleaners’ plight a feminist issue? Well, for a start most tube cleaners are women and Feminist Fightback feel that cleaning has been “underpaid and devalued as a ‘women’s industry’”. At £5.50 an hour, tube cleaners are certainly underpaid and undervalued. The 700-800 RMT members have a list of demands that brings shame to Transport for London (TfL) and its cleaning sub-contractors. They want a living wage, sick pay, 28 days holiday, final salary pension, free travel and an end to third party sackings. As well as the expected level of unpleasantness involved in the work, tube cleaners claim to face grim conditions: on-the-spot sackings, having to clean faeces with their bare hands, using unsafe cleaning chemicals and cleaning eight stations at a time on their own. On top of this, many workers face intimidation over immigration status. Despite Transport for London’s insistence that the strike was “completely unnecessary” it is about much more than the simple pay dispute TfL claims to be fixing.

Feminist Fightback certainly see it that way. One tube worker in the group believes that this kind of industrial action “shows the way forward for other women”. Many women in underpaid “pink-collar” jobs are made to feel powerless by managers and given no practical help from mainstream feminist organisations. By organising in day-to-day struggles, in the workplace or community, women (and men for that matter) can make improvements and gain a sense of empowerment. This is a basic part of Feminist Fightback’s activities, that women’s liberation isn’t merely a statistic or piece of legislation, but an experience.

With solidarity from groups like Feminist Fightback, women battling poor pay and working conditions can get support where it has been denied by anti-union laws. To this end the group have been attending pickets and staging protests. On the first day of the strike a dozen members cleaned up the London underground offices whilst handing out leaflets to staff and the public. In the recent 48 hour strike, the group dumped rubbish outside the offices, chanting “Transport for London – clean up your act”. Clara Osagiede, RMT cleaner’s grade secretary, says the demos and picket support have been “very useful” and are much appreciated by the workers.

Although their activities are fairly small scale for the moment, these activists are optimistic, one member explaining that “this kind of action gives us a boost and a model to build on”. With the 80th anniversary of universal female suffrage this week, it seems an appropriate time for feminist groups and activists to be getting back to direct action.

http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2008/07/feminist-fightback-women-tube-

Asylum Is A Gay Issue: Lesbian Woman Deported To Nigeria, Destitute And Facing Homophobia

Posted on July 5, 2008
Filed Under Benefit, Lesbian Gay, London, Refugee, Women's Group

“In Nigeria, as an openly gay woman, I suffer homophobic abuse and violence. I am homeless and at the mercies of strangers. If my ex-husband and his family find out I am in Nigeria my life would be in further danger.”

Grace Ogunsola was refused asylum and deported when the Home Office and courts refused to acknowledge the dangers faced by lesbian women in Nigeria. She is homeless and survives on handouts or by occasionally turning to prostitution. She was unable to raise money for a much needed operation and has now been diagnosed HIV+.

Previously in Nigeria, Ms Ogunsola survived rape and other violence including an attempt on her life by her husband. She was trafficked to Britain in March 2005, and forced into prostitution to pay the agent who helped her escape. She was detained for over a year in Yarl’s Wood Removal Centre where she started a relationship with a woman and came out publicly as a lesbian. In November 2006, she was deported despite widespread public support including from Black Women’s Rape Action Project, her MP, the Metropolitan Community Church and Wages Due Lesbians. Increasingly repressive legislation and media witch-hunts have resulted in many so-called “failed asylum seekers” like Ms Ogunsola being deported back to rape, other torture and even death.

“Now is the time for prominent lesbian and gay people, including politicians and those from high profile organisations to defend the civil, human and legal rights of those of us seeking asylum - being an immigrant and fleeing persecution is a ‘gay issue’. Those who don’t support asylum seekers are upholding a different standard of ‘equality’ depending on whether someone has the right passport, skin colour, accent . . . ”

Wages Due Lesbians is fund-raising to help Ms Ogunsola.

For more information:
Phone: 0207 482 2496
Email: wdl@allwomencount.net
Web: http://www.allwomencount.net/

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See also Prossy Kakooza must not be returned to Uganda!

Pregnant women in Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre demand immediate independent investigation

Posted on July 5, 2008
Filed Under Campaign, Children Parenting, Health, Human Rights, London, Women's Group

In a letter received on 30th June ’08, five pregnant women from Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre describe systematic neglect and an institutionalised failure to provide the vital resources and healthcare which expectant mothers are entitled to, and which SERCO, the multi-national running Yarl’s Wood, have a duty to provide. At least five other women have suffered similar appalling treatment:
* All were denied urgent antenatal healthcare and their supplementary dietary needs.
* On 21 June, four of the women went to the healthcare centre in Yarl’s Wood because they were suffering vaginal bleeding. Despite their symptoms, none were examined or given treatment. They were told to return to their rooms. One woman, who continued to bleed, had to be taken to hospital later that evening. She had a miscarriage and her premature baby was stillborn. Two other women subsequently collapsed. The authorities tried to deport one woman despite the fact that she was still in pain and clearly unfit to travel.

The women demand an “urgent investigation by an independent body about sinister situations that are happening to avoid future unexplained miscarriages and inhuman treatment.”

When we urgently tried to contact women we could not get through on the phone. This is scandalously not unusual despite SERCO’s claims that communication is extremely important to the “residents” under their “care”. Every week we are told women “are not coming to the phone or answering their pagers”. We eventually reached women today on their mobiles and they confirmed that three of them do not have pagers, and that “you can’t hear the tannoy system if you are in your room”. Communication with people outside is made more difficult by the cost of phone calls — £5 for phone cards which last three minutes and mobiles which have poor reception.

Many women in Yarl’s Wood are vulnerable and need urgent help with their legal cases and access to other support. It is completely unacceptable that SERCO and others are profiteering by overcharging for phone services. Some may be facing removal and because solicitors and specialist organisations such as ourselves are unable to speak to them and provide essential information about their rights, they may be removed without being able to get this help.

Black Women’s Rape Action Project bwrap@dircon.co.uk
Legal Action for Women law@crossroadswomen.net
020 7482 2496 or 07980 659 831

New YouGov poll shows eight in ten people want cross-government strategy to end violence against women but fractured response across the UK fails victims

Posted on July 5, 2008
Filed Under England, Reseach, Violence Against Women, Women's Group

More than eight in ten people (84%) agree that there should be a cross-government strategy to end violence against women, according to new YouGov polling for the End Violence Against Women campaign (EVAW) which is today publishing a template of what this strategy should look like.

These findings come just weeks after MPs on the Home Affairs Committee called for such a strategy and will increase pressure on the government to act. A strategy is already supported by the main opposition parties as well as the Equality and Human Rights Commission. The Scottish government has been developing this approach for some time.

Professor Liz Kelly, Chair of EVAW, said:
‘Violence against women costs £40 billion a year in England and Wales alone. Continuing with the current fractured approach is simply too costly, both for victims and for society. There is now a deafening chorus of voices calling for a national strategy to end violence against women and we are setting out what government at all levels should be doing.’

Jill Saward, who is challenging David Davies in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election. said:.
‘I am standing against David Davies to make sure public safety is at the forefront of debates on civil liberties. Three million women across the UK experience sexual or another form of violence each year - we need a more strategic approach to tackle this problem.’

The EVAW campaign has identified significant problems with the current disconnected approach to violence against women across the UK, as highlighted by IL’s case below, including:
* Separate policies or action plans on specific forms of violence in England, Wales and N Ireland
* Resources focused on the criminal justice system even though most victims don’t report what happens to them. Yet conviction rates are still very low meaning that perpetrators escape justice.
* A funding crisis has led to the closure of support services for women. One in three local authorities in the UK do not have specialised services, such as Rape Crisis Centres and refuges.
* Little work to prevent violence, meaning that the level and impact of violence will continue unaddressed in the long-term.

EVAW’s template strategy, Realising Rights, Fulfilling Obligations, sets out what the government should be doing, including:
* Schools should address consent to sex, healthy relationships and sexist bullying as part of the curriculum.
* Long-term public campaigns to challenge ways violence is justified and excused, similar to road safety campaigns.
* A coherent funding strategy to ensure Rape Crisis Centres, refuges, services for ethnic minority women and other specialised services are equally available across the UK.
* All relevant professionals, including civil servants, should be trained to understand and respond to the reality and impact of violence against women.
* Government departments to include violence against women in key policies, such as social exclusion, poverty, healthier lives, substance misuse and community cohesion.

http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=17809

New laws in Scotland to target staff sending sexually explicit e-mails

Posted on July 5, 2008
Filed Under Children Parenting, Government, Rape and Sexual Assault, Scotland

Staff sending sexually explicit e-mails at work were warned that they could be accused of being a sex offender.

As part of the biggest overhaul of sex offences in Scotland, a new statutory offence of “communicating indecently” will criminalise those who send malicious and unwanted sexually offensive e-mails and texts, as well as other verbal and written messages.

A new bill contains proposals for a raft of other new offences, covering areas such as indecent exposure and spiking drinks for the purpose of having sex.

It proposes a crackdown on “sex tourism”, with Scottish law-enforcement agencies empowered to investigate and prosecute any adult who has intercourse with a child overseas.

The bill also seeks to overhaul the law on rape. For the first time, the crucial issue of consent will be defined, in a bid to ensure more rapists are brought to justice. Latest figures show the proportion of reported rapes that result in a conviction in Scotland has fallen to just 2.9 per cent.

The planned legislation also widens the definition of rape to include the abuse of males.

The proposals are based on recommendations in a report published last December by the Scottish Law Commission. It had been commissioned in 2004 to examine the law on rape and other sexual offences.

However, ministers have turned down a commission proposal to decriminalise all consenting sex between youngsters aged 13 to 15.

Also rejected was the commission’s proposal to decriminalise consensual adult sexual violence. That had raised fears among police and campaigners of creating a legal loophole for rapists and perpetrators of domestic violence.

Of the proposals that were accepted, Kenny MacAskill, the justice secretary, said: “There is widespread agreement that the existing law is unclear and derives from a time with very different attitudes from today.”

The bill provided a “once in a generation” opportunity for parliament to reform the law, replacing a complex mix of common and statute law with “a clear legal framework that more accurately reflects the values of modern society”.

He went on: “Reform of rape law will not, on its own, improve low conviction rates. Other ongoing work is vital – improving investigation and prosecution of rape and sexual assault, reviewing law of evidence and challenging public attitudes to rape and sexual assault.

“However, this bill will, together with this other work, contribute to improving the criminal justice system’s response to crimes of rape and sexual assault.”

The offence of indecent communication reflects growing concern that existing laws do not adequately protect people from receiving unwanted and sexually offensive messages via the internet, and in e-mails and mobile-phone texts. Colin Tyre, of the Scottish Law Commission, told The Scotsman: “We wanted to make sure all forms of communication were covered by a single law. Sending offensive e-mails in the workplace has become more common, as have text messages.”

He stressed people would only be held to be breaking the law if their actions were motivated by sexual gratification, or to humiliate the recipient.

But one legal expert last night warned that people who sent risqué e-mails at work should be more careful. John Scott, a leading human-rights lawyer, said: “The offence is not defined as such to exclude people in the office who send rude e-mails.

“These people probably won’t be the first port of call for the authorities. But if somebody was on the receiving end of an e-mail and took particular offence, they may decide to phone the police.

“People can already lose their jobs for sexual harassment, so this doesn’t necessarily raise the stakes too much. But I certainly think people in this situation should be more careful.”

The new law was warmly welcomed by Lily Greenan, the manager of Scottish Women’s Aid.

She said: “Mobile phones and e-mails have increasingly been used to harass and intimidate both ex-partners and complete strangers.

“This is a positive step, as we need to ensure people on the receiving end are protected.”

Anyone found guilty of indecent communication faces a maximum ten-year jail sentence.

Pauline McNeill, Labour’s justice spokeswoman, welcomed the proposal to make the use of date-rape drugs a sexual offence. She added: “The proposal to prosecute so-called sex tourists is also a welcome move and one that Labour will back.”

That aspect of the bill will empower Scottish prosecutors to pursue anyone who has sex with someone under the age of 16 in a foreign country.

A spokesman for the Association of British Travel Agents also supported the move.

“This new legislation will provide clear guidelines and sends out the unequivocal message that this kind of behaviour is utterly unacceptable and culprits will be severely punished,” he said.

Bill Aitken, the Scottish Tories’ justice spokesman, threw his support behind the proposed changes to the law on rape. “Clearly, we wish to do everything possible to tidy up the law in this respect and also to ensure that the victims of what are sometimes the most disgraceful and damaging of crimes get justice,” he said.

“We do have to recognise, however, that at the end of the day, it will in many cases be a matter for juries, and there is the possibility of evidential difficulties with regard to the definition of consent.

“I do think, however, that what is being proposed is a way forward. The victims of sexual assault are entitled to look to the parliament to do everything possible to prevent these types of crime which frequently leave the victims traumatised.”

While Rape Crisis Scotland welcomed many of the measures, its spokeswoman, Sandy Brindley, said they had grave concerns about one part of the legislation.

She said the bill contained provisions that would mean someone who was asleep or unconscious could have consented to sex, explaining: “The notion that someone can give advance consent to sex at 6pm and that this consent should still apply at 1am, when they are incapable of giving meaningful consent, is absurd.”

Article continues at http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/New-laws-to-target-sex.4200193.jp and comments on other aspects of the bill including:
* Sex tourism - (Currently) … a Scot who travels to Madrid and has sex with a 13-year-old could not be prosecuted because the age of consent in Spain is 13. The legislation would make it an offence under Scots law for anyone to commit a sex crime against someone under 18 abroad (it is 18 instead of 16 because offences of child prostitution and pornography are included).
* Under-age sex - The Scottish Government has rejected a proposal to decriminalise sex between children aged 13 and 15.
* Consent - For the first time, the question of consent in rape cases will be defined in law. … Under the new bill, consent is defined as “free agreement” between the different parties. To aid juries, a list of scenarios where consent cannot be said to have been given is also provided.
* Cybersex - The bill defines the new offence of indecent communication as occurring when a person intentionally delivers a sexual message to another person.
* Public indecency - government explicitly wants to criminalise anyone who intentionally exposes their genitals in a sexual manner to another person with the intention of causing alarm or distress, or being “reckless” as to whether alarm or distress may be caused. The new offence also criminalises sexual exposure in someone’s home. The aim is to make it clear such behaviour is a sex crime completely separate to someone causing offence by, for example, sunbathing naked in a public park.
* Children - Under the bill, children aged under 13 are regarded as being too young to consent to sexual activity. It is therefore not a defence for anyone to argue that the child consented to that activity. It will also be an offence for an adult to engage in sexual activity with a child aged between 13 and 15.
* Date Rape - The bill says someone who intentionally administers a substance to another person without them knowing, in order to stupefy or overpower that person so sexual activity can take place, will be committing a new offence, which will carry a maximum five-year prison sentence.

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See also Reform of law on rape & sexual offences in Scotland – Rape Crisis Scotland comments

A Londonderry based women’s advocacy group has called for research into how safe women are on the city’s streets

Posted on July 5, 2008
Filed Under Northern Ireland, Violence Against Women, Women's Group

The women’s support group said increases in women feeling vulnerable to attacks needed to be explored locally and in depth.

The call follows the announcement that women in Northern Ireland find the streets more dangerous now than at the height of the troubles.

The new report by the Women’s Centre Regional Partnership (WCRP) shows that many women believe there is an rise in sexual assaults, knife crime and “happy-slapping”.

“I think there is an increased level of anxiety around women, and fear of sexual attacks in Derry” says area management co-ordinator of Foyle Women’s Aid, Marie Brown.

“We need to address what these fears are and look at how can women feel more confident on the streets.

“We’re interested to hear what local women are saying, to look more locally and in depth at what issues we have to address.”

Attitudes towards anti-social or violent crime in the city also needed to be evaluated, she said.

“We need research into violent behaviour and we need to address cultural issues and attitudes”.

Ms Brown also said there was a difference between raising fear of crime and the number of actual incidents.

“There is a difference between perceived fears and actual experiences. In my time working with the District Policing Partnership (DPP) I have learned there is more fear of crime than crime actually happening.

“I’m not sure this is a new thing that is only emerging or if it just would not have gotten media coverage before.”

She pointed to “a range of places” that were working to help women feel safer in Londonderry including increased awareness and education in the community.

“There is an anti-social behaviour strategy in place and lots of education programmes working with young people to promote healthy relationships.”

Anyone interested in getting advice from Foyle Women’s Aid can contact the Pathways Outreach office at (028) 71280060.

http://www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk/news/Women39s-group-calls-for-research.4173527.jp

Fresh calls have been made for a rape centre to be built in Londonderry to deal with victims of sexual assault

Posted on July 5, 2008
Filed Under Northern Ireland, Rape and Sexual Assault

Community workers will meet with PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde to lobby for a Sexual Assault Referral Centre.

Currently people have to travel outside the city for police interviews, medical examinations and counselling.

Marie Brown, from Foyle Women’s Aid, said having to travel to Belfast for assistance added to the level of distress for victims.

“We only have one forensic medical officer and if she’s not available then they have to go to Belfast,” she added.

The call for a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) to be built in Derry has been backed by Foyle MLA Raymond McCartney.

“The trauma women experience as a result of sexual assault should not be exacerbated by having to travel for examination and counselling in the immediate aftermath of such an attack,” he said.

Mr McCartney said with a rise in the number of attacks across Derry, Donegal and the West Tyrone region it was unacceptable that there is no SARC in the North west.

“We must treat these attacks with the utmost seriousness and sensitivity by making sure that victims have immediate and local access to trauma and counselling services.”

Raymond McCartney will meet with Hugh Orde along with Marie Brown to discuss the impact of such a centre for the North West.

It is hoped having a SARC would encourage more victims to report sexual assaults.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/7471005.stm

Three members of the Welsh assembly have disclosed in a questionnaire they were sent by one of their colleagues that they have been raped

Posted on July 2, 2008
Filed Under Domestic Violence, Government, Rape and Sexual Assault, Reseach, Wales

Nerys Evans sent it to all 60 Assembly Members (AMs) and eight responded.

None of the three reported the rape, and neither did another AM who was a victim of domestic abuse.

The Plaid Cymru AM’s questionnaire coincides with a larger survey of students by Amnesty International and NUS Wales about violence against women.

A total of seven women and one man responded to Ms Evans’s questionnaire.

Five of those said they knew someone who had been sexually assaulted without reporting the incident.

The eight AMs also said they knew someone who had been abused by a violent partner. Two of the victims contacted police, and three sought help.

Ms Evans told BBC Wales the three AMs who had been raped were willing for the information to be disclosed, on condition of anonymity.

Miss Evans said: “I am surprised at the results. They are pretty shocking. It just shows how widespread violence against women and domestic abuse is.”

She is launching the results of the Amnesty and NUS survey at the assembly on Wednesday.

The two organisations are calling on the assembly government and universities and colleges in Wales to take measures to tackle violence against women students.

The survey of more than 700 students across Welsh campuses found 64% of respondents knew women whose partners had hit them, and 41% knew women who had been pressurised or coerced into sex.

A third also believed a woman was totally or partially responsible for being raped or sexually assaulted if she was drunk or had been flirtatious, and a quarter thought she was in some way to blame if she walked alone in a deserted area.

Amnesty and the NUS described those statistics as a “shocking level of tolerance for sexual violence”.

Isolated

Ms Evans is calling on the assembly government to fund an awareness-raising campaign in Wales.

She said: “It is disappointing that attitudes of our young people haven’t moved on. This presents a worrying future.

“There is a real need to tackle the suggestion that a woman can be responsible for being raped.”

She thinks there is a particular problem for abuse victims in isolated parts of the country.

“There are so many rural communities in Wales where there’s no access to help.

“Although services for victims are improving across different parts of Wales, it is imperative that we bring attention to this issue in order to bring the message home that violence against women is unacceptable.”

Cathy Owens, Amnesty International’s programme director in Wales, said: “If we are going to break the cycle of violence that sees a third of all women in Wales suffering from some sort of violence, then we need to start by challenging attitudes towards violence against women amongst students and the population at large.

“The Welsh Assembly Government should consider a comprehensive campaign aimed at preventing violence - making it far less acceptable on our campuses and in our communities.”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7484160.stm
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see: New survey reveals alarming prevalence of domestic abuse suffered by students in Wales and confirms shocking view of sexual assault

Police have arrested more than 500 suspects in a crackdown on human trafficking in the sex trade

Posted on July 2, 2008
Filed Under England, Prostitution, Trafficking, Violence Against Women

The Home Office said the majority of the 167 victims identified originated from China, south-east Asia and eastern Europe. Most were women, with the youngest aged just 14.

Police made 528 arrests in the operation, codenamed Pentameter 2, after raiding 822 premises, of which 157 were massage parlours and 582 houses and flats.

The government said the high proportion of private residences being used showed the “covert nature” of human trafficking for prostitution.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: “Human trafficking is a despicable crime, perpetrated by organised criminal gangs whose business is to make money from human misery.

“Human trafficking has no place in modern society and I am absolutely determined that we continue to take tough action to disrupt these criminal gangs.”

She reiterated that the government signed a Council of Europe Convention on Human Trafficking last year and will ratify it by the end of this year.

Tim Brain, the chief constable of Gloucestershire Police in south-west England which led the operation, said it had served a dual purpose.

“As a direct result of Pentameter 2, more than 160 vulnerable people have been saved from lives of abuse, exploitation and misery,” he said.

“Perhaps even more importantly, Pentameter 2 has been instrumental in seriously disrupting the organised crime networks responsible for human trafficking.”

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jfzbSYvcJHkqjpXFEUrs6kcR4k6g
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Pentameter 2 results show:
* 167 victims identified;
* 528 criminals arrested;
* 822 premises visited;
* 6,400 police intelligence reports gathered;
* more than £500,000 worth of cash has been recovered from those criminals arrested and court orders are in place to restrain further criminal assets running into several millions of pounds; and
* of those recovered 13 of the victims were children with the youngest aged just 14 years old.

Extract from Home Office Press Release 2nd July 2008 http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=372630&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=True

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