Moves to end the immediate deportation of sex trafficking victims have been welcomed by John Battle MP (Lab, Leeds West).

The Government has said that it will sign up to an international agreement giving victims the right to stay temporarily. Under the European Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings, victims of trafficking will have a minimum of 30 days to recover and escape from the influence of criminal gangs, providing them with a breathing space when they can decide whether to co-operate with the authorities.

Mr Battle said: “I am pleased that the Government has finally decided to sign up to the Convention. Many constituents have contacted me on the issue and I had been pressing ministers for some time to sign up to the Convention. It is absolutely right that we should recognise women trafficked for prostitution through deception, fear and violence, as victims of serious crime and not immigration offenders or criminals themselves.

“Human trafficking, often for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labour, is an appalling crime and amounts to modern day slavery. It causes great harm, not just to the victims, but to our society as a whole.

“While it’s clear that sex trafficking is a major problem in the UK, there have been very few convictions for trafficking in recent years. I believe that allowing victims a time to recover will encourage them to come forward and give evidence against the traffickers. Hopefully this change in the rules will result in more convictions.”

©John Battle MP 22 January 2007