Press releases
Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group assesses trafficking prevention in the UK
The Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group (ATMG), of which ECPAT UK is a member, has released a new report that examines trafficking prevention in the UK in accordance with the UK Government’s obligations under the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.
Children trafficked for cannabis cultivation need protection not prosecution
1 May 2012
High numbers of children, largely from South East Asia, are trafficked to the UK to work in cannabis farms, robbed of their freedom and subject to violence and hazardous conditions. Therefore, it is of great concern to ECPAT UK that police have reported a sharp rise in the number of cannabis farms discovered in the UK.
Romanian family jailed over trafficking of seven-year-old girl
Jailed: Traffickers Aurel-Ilie Zlate (l) and Alexandra Oaie (r) (c) Metropolitan Police Service
20 April 2012
The jailing of four members of a family who trafficked a seven-year-old girl into London to be their domestic slave has highlighted the very real existence of child trafficking in the UK.
National Referral Mechanism at the heart of PAHT debate in Warsaw
20 April 2012
The Polish Parliament has hosted the fourth event of the Parliamentarians Against Human Trafficking (PAHT) project, a one-day parliamentary seminar on the National Referral Mechanism for victims of trafficking.
l-r ECPAT UK's Stana Buchowska, the Human Trafficking Foundation's Anthony Steen, the former Prime Minister of Poland Mr Leszek Miller, Lady Butler-Sloss, Ryszard Kalisz MP
Italian senate hosts third seminar of the PAHT project
The third event of the Parliamentarians Against Human Trafficking (PAHT) project was held last Thursday, 22 March 2012, in the Italian Parliament, Rome. Hosted by the Italian Senate, the seminar provided a forum for parliamentarians from across Europe to meet with NGOs, law enforcement representatives and experts on human trafficking to discuss anti-trafficking legislation on protection of victims.
Police uncover suspected child exploitation ring in Oxford
22 March 2012
ECPAT UK welcomes today’s arrests of 12 men in Oxford as part of an operation targeting child exploitation offences.
Operation Bullfinch by Thames Valley Police is an investigation into the exploitation of 24 girls aged between 11 and 16 years old in Oxford. Police have said they believe they have uncovered an organised crime group “running a business of selling young girls for sex” over a six-year period.
Romanian family members found guilty of trafficking seven-year-old child
13 March 2012
ECPAT UK welcomes the convictions of members of a family who trafficked a seven-year-old girl into the UK to work as a servant.
Husband and wife Aurel-Ilie Zlatea, 45, and Alexandra Oaie, 44, who are both originally from Romania, were found guilty at Croydon Crown Court on 8 March of human trafficking, assault, and neglect of the young victim at their house in Wood Green, north London.
ECPAT UK campaign success – UK Government to close the ‘3-day loophole’ on overseas travel by British sex offenders
8th March 2012
The UK Government has announced that it will close the ‘3-day loophole’ in the Sexual Offences Act (2003), which currently allows registered British sex offenders to travel abroad for up to three days without having to notify the authorities of their intention to do so.
Closing the ‘3-day loophole’ has been an ECPAT UK campaign call since 2006. We therefore welcome the Government’s decision, taken on 5 March 2012, as it will force registered British sex offenders to notify the police of any foreign travel plans.
UK must sign up to latest Optional Protocol on international children's rights legislation
28th February 2012
The Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on a complaints mechanism for children is opening for signature.
Care for child victims of trafficking set to be reviewed
ECPAT UK welcomes the Government’s decision to ask the Children’s Commissioner for England to conduct a review of how child victims of trafficking are looked after when they are rescued in the UK.
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Latest updates
The Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group (ATMG), of which ECPAT UK is a member, has released a new report that examines trafficking prevention in the UK in accordance with the UK Government’s obligations…
1 May 2012
High numbers of children, largely from South East Asia, are trafficked to the UK to work in cannabis farms, robbed of their freedom and subject to violence and hazardous conditions. Therefore,…
Jailed: Traffickers Aurel-Ilie Zlate (l) and Alexandra Oaie (r) (c) Metropolitan Police Service
20 April 2012
The jailing of four…
ECPATUK: New training dates added to our Introduction to Child Trafficking course for all practitioners working with children: http://t.co/HVB8JEsO
ECPATUK: RT @DebsBeadle: Just completing Gold Youth Achievement Award with @ECPATUK Youth Group member gaining valuable life skills @UKYouth
ECPATUK: @ECPAT UK Director Christine Beddoe on @BBCLondon949 speaking to @VanessaOnAir about vulnerable Roma children being forced to beg in London
ECPATUK: RT @DebsBeadle: Just completing Gold Youth Achievement Award with @ECPATUK Youth Group member gaining valuable life skills @UKYouth
ECPATUK: @ECPAT UK Director Christine Beddoe on @BBCLondon949 speaking to @VanessaOnAir about vulnerable Roma children being forced to beg in London
ECPATUK: New training dates added to our Introduction to Child Trafficking course for all practitioners working with children: http://t.co/HVB8JEsO
ECPATUK: See how @ECPATUK has contributed to documentaries and programmes on trafficking and exploitation:http://t.co/BGmEVJq5