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   Law on trafficked prostitutes in force 'within months'
A new law that criminalises people who pay for sex with trafficked prostitutes may be brought into force "within months". Home Office minister Alan Campbell told the joint committee on human rights that the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) are "working closely" to ensure the law "is usable and will get convictions". He said there may be a high-profile advertising campaign to "send out the message" about this new strict liability offence, which formed part of the Policing and Crime Act 2009. Campbell admitted there had been a "prolonged" debate on the new law, but parliament had agreed it is "the right thing to do". He said it would make clear "what responsibility falls on the men fuelling the trade" in trafficked prostitutes. "We need to waken up men to the horrors they are part of," he added. Andrew Dismore (Lab, Hendon) chairman of the joint committee, expressed concern that the new law would have a chilling effect on men reporting concerns about trafficked prostitutes to authorities. Evan Harris (Lib Dem, Oxford West and Abingdon) said the new law could place women in even more exploitative situations. He criticised the lack of an evidence base showing the law will have the desired effect. Campbell said evidence was presented to parliamentarians and the new law was widely debated. Fiona Mactaggart (Lab, Slough) asked if the impending election could impact on the roll-out of an advertising campaign about the new law. Campbell said he is "not enormously confident" that the law will come into force before the election, which must be held by June. "We are heading towards purdah," he said, a reference to the consciously non-partisan stance taken by civil servants in the run up to an election. The minister said chief police officers and the CPS will be consulted about how best to target a campaign, such as placing adverts in men's toilets at service stations. The Earl of Onslow (Con) asked if the Home Office has considered setting up an anonymous hotline where people can report suspected trafficked prostitutes. Campbell said it had been discussed, but it may be more appropriate to ensure existing hotlines are properly advertised rather than replicate them. He said people could use Crimestoppers hotline to report suspected trafficked persons. Lord Dubs (Lab) asked how many trafficked people who are discovered by the authorities are changed with asylum offences. Campbell said that victims should not be charged and children who have been trafficked are put in the care of a local authority. He said the approach to trafficking is "victim-centred" but there are more complex cases where people claim to be trafficked and were not. Others do not realise they have rights as a trafficked person or develop 'Stockholm syndrome' and come to relate to their captors. Dismore asked about the Olympics and prostitution. Campbell said there is "an assumption" that there will be an increase in prostitution around a major sporting event such as the Olympics, but many of those women may come from surrounding areas and are not necessarily trafficked. He said the Met police are aware of the issue and focused on it. Source: ePolitix.com Copyright Dod's Parliamentary Communications Ltd
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