Keeping the Resources to Fight Trafficking

When I launched my successful campaign to retain specialist staff at the Metropolitan Police tackling trafficking of women in October 2009, I was a little surprised at the number of people who questioned the amount of trafficked women there are in London. I am sad that this is the case, but pleased to read in the Evening Standard that the police have succesfully prosecuted two people. The Standard wrote:

“A couple who made more than £1 million a year from four brothels in London suburbs were facing jail today. Michael Dalton, a former police informer, and his partner, Nikki Chen, trafficked women from China to work in the brothels. They spent the profits on houses in Gloucestershire and Surrey, two Ferraris, a Lamborghini and classic Mercedes cars. Police believe that a VW van, fitted with a cage, was used to ferry the girls between the brothels.”

The use of a caged van clearly shows how these women were being patrolled. If I were writing a tabloid there’s some pun around cage users being caged! I am sure the need for vigilance in defending police work in this area remains. On the doorsteps during the recent London Council elections, people clearly understood that Labour was the Party committed to more police on our streets. In January 2009 Boris Johnson promised there would be no cuts in police numbers. Nine months later 400 Metropolitan police officers jobs went. I am glad Londoners have voted for more community safety and better tackling of crime. Whoever runs for Labour in the next Mayoral election needs to expose Boris’ record of cuts in crimefighting.

My very best wishes to the police on their hard work and successful prosecution.  I will continue to campaign to ensure that London has the police it needs and to address the international trafficking of women.