Shock at North West 'human trafficking' figures

New figures from the Human Trafficking Foundation published this week claim there are up to one thousand slaves in the UK from the North West.

Shockingly, it's claimed the number for the whole of the UK stands at 20,000.

Hazel Grove MP Andrew Stunell attended the launch at an exhibition in Parliament and met survivors of modern day slavery. He said:

“I was appalled to learn that even Stockport is affected by modern day slavery and that there will undoubtedly be deeply traumatised people who have been trafficked to the UK and abused living in the town."

“As a result of what I’ve seen today, I want to ensure that everyone is more alert to the signs of modern day slavery. I hope students in schools, public service workers, the police, as well as those in private business will join me in this task"

The Serious Organized Crime Agency says that at least 2,000 victims are found each year, with cases from all over the country. However, they believe that for every victim found, another ten remain hidden.

Commenting, MP for Hazel Grove Andrew Stunell said:

"I am proud that the Coalition Government has signed up to the EU Directive on human trafficking, but these figures certainly show there is a lot more work to be done.”

The survivors who shared their stories with the Human Trafficking Foundation to create the exhibition attended the opening. Among them was Cristina, a Romanian girl sold by her mother into prostitution in Birmingham when she was 16 and who narrowly escaped being snatched from her local authority care home by her traffickers.

Anthony Steen, Chairman of the Human Trafficking Foundation said: "What is amazing is that trafficked children, unlike adults, are offered no special help in spite of what they have been through. They have no safe haven since in local authority care hundreds of trafficked children go missing each year."