Trafficking probe leads to raids

April 20, 2006 -(BBC NEWS) Police have made several arrests in Dundee as part of an operation to combat human sex trafficking.

Officers detained three Brazilian women in connection with alleged immigration offences following a series of raids.

Tayside Police found no evidence of trafficking but said they had disrupted prostitution activity in the area.

The raids were part of Operation Pentameter, a national initiative involving all 55 police forces in Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales.

Police used information from members of the Dundee community to aid the operation, which also resulted in £30,000 in cash being seized from a city flat.

Intelligence gathering
Detective Chief Superintendent Colin McCashey said that even though no evidence of trafficking was uncovered, some of the women were still living illegally in the UK.

"We are particularly concerned over vulnerable women being trafficked, if anyone has any suspicions that premises or people are connected with such activity I would urge them to get in touch with us in order that we can investigate further," he said.

"Many trafficking victims have been brought to the UK under deception and forced to work as prostitutes against their will by use of fear or force."

Mr McCashey said officers' work had been invaluable for gathering intelligence, adding: "Even when we go into premises where no allegations of trafficking are made, people who work there can be an excellent source of information."

From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/tayside_and_central/4925720.stm