UK - PENTAMETER 2
Pentameter 2 (UKP2) aims to rescue and protect victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation and to identify, disrupt, arrest and bring to justice those involved in criminal activity.
There is particular emphasis on understanding the nature and extent of trafficking, the involvement of organised crime groups and attacking the assets of such groups.
Whilst the law enforcement activity will focus on trafficking for sexual exploitation, the intention is to use UKP2 to collect further information and intelligence about trafficking for labour exploitation and child trafficking.
One of the strategic aims of UKP2 is to increase knowledge and understanding of all forms of human trafficking in the UK but also raise awareness of the issue.
POLITICAL AND
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The operation is taking place in conjunction with a G6 project on human trafficking being led by the UK and Poland, which includes enforcement work in a number of other EU countries at the same time as UKP2 is taking place.
In 2006 the Home Office and Scottish Executive undertook a national consultation on proposals to tackle human trafficking. Following that process and consideration of the responses the UK Action Plan on tackling human trafficking was published. The Action Plan pulls together all the work currently underway across government and with partners and creates a platform for future work to combat trafficking. The Plan sets out 62 practical measures in the 4 key areas of Prevention, Enforcement/ Investigation and Prosecution, Protection and Assistance to Adult Victims, and Child Trafficking.
In order to further improve and co-ordinate the law enforcement response to human trafficking, the UK Human Trafficking Centre was established in October 2006. The centre provides a central point for the development of expertise and operational coordination in relation to the trafficking of human beings, (THB), complementing the work of other agencies.
2007 marks the passage of 200 years since Parliament passed the Act to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire. In this bicentenary year, the Government has indicated a commitment to redoubling efforts to address this modern day form of slavery. The UK Action Plan was published on March 23, the same day the Home Secretary signed the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings, which is the most recent international treaty on human trafficking aimed at the protection and support of victims.
In a letter to the agencies participating in Pentameter 2, Jacqui Smith explained the Government's approach to tackling trafficking and stressed the importance of redoubling efforts to address "modern day slavery".
She added: "It is only by combining our efforts in a coordinated way that we can maximise our effectiveness and make the UK a hostile environment for human traffickers and reduce the harm they cause.
"I believe that this operation can not only build on the success of Pentameter 1 but will make a major difference on the ground by protecting and supporting victims whilst increasing the number of arrests and prosecutions of those criminals behind this serious crime. Pentameter 2 is the next stage in ensuring that the UK is a hostile environment for such criminals and will send out a clear message that as a society we will not tolerate the exploitation and brutality perpetrated by these 21st century human traffickers."
PENTAMETER 1
Pentameter 2 follows on from the achievements of Pentameter 1, which took place in 2006 and was the first proactive policing operation to simultaneously involve all 55 forces in the UK, being seen as a shining example of partnership working across a variety of disciplines.
Pentameter 1 resulted in 88 victims of trafficking from 22 different countries (primarily Eastern Europe, China/South- East Asia, Africa or Brazil) being recovered. 232 people were arrested and 134 charged with a variety of offences.
PENTAMETER 1
OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW
Read the operational overview of Operation Pentameter produced by Gloucestershire Constabulary.