Some leading charities, including NSPCC, have spoken out against the Met Police’s proposed disbandment of their human trafficking unit.

In a combined appeal written to Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson charities have stressed the move will be detrimental to fight the against human trafficking. However, a final decision on whether to remove the Met Police unit, constructed only in 2007, will not be made until next week.

The letter, publicised by the BBC, reads:
“Human trafficking is a complex, sensitive issue. Given the continually evolving nature of the crime, it has taken the Human Trafficking Team and Non-Governmental Organisations working in the field a number of years to develop their expertise in the area.

“Policing trafficking for forced labour, domestic servitude and all other forms of exploitation requires specialist knowledge and understanding of trafficking, dedicated resources and commitment.”

In 2012 Olympics the risk of human trafficking for sexual services is thought to increase as there will be a significant increase in people based in London – already a hot-spot for human trafficking.

The proposed disbandment seems a step back after equalitys officer, Harriet Harman, encouraged the Labour Party conference only last month that efforts would be made to ensure sex selling will be stopped in 2012:
“We’re determined to ensure that, especially in the run up to the Olympics, international criminal gangs don’t trick and abduct women from abroad and sell them for sex in London,”

Preventative measures were said by Harman to be stepped up so to oppose the rising demand for 2012, but it seems operations such as the Met Police’s only seem to be stepping backward.