Dramatic increase in trafficking of British children

A dramatic increase in the number of British-born children being trafficked for sexual abuse has been revealed in figures released recently by the National Crime Agency (NCA), the Guardian reported this week.

According to the Guardian, an increase of 155% in children potentially at risk of sexual abuse was disclosed in the NCA figures, with 56 considered at risk. Foreign children remain more susceptible to being trafficked for sexual abuse, with 88 being identified by the NCA as potential victims, representing an increase of 11% on the previous year’s figures.

In addition to those children identified as being at risk of trafficking for the purposes of sexual abuse, the Guardian says that 45 were at risk of being trafficked to work as servants, 123 for labour exploitation and 138 were at risk of being trafficked for unknown purposes. All of these figures register increases on the figures for 2012.

As we reported in December last year a Bill has been proposed by the Government which is intended to address the growing issue of modern slavery in England and Wales. It is currently being considered in detail by the Joint Committee on the draft Modern Slavery Bill and the hope is that a Bill will progress through Parliament shortly.

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