By Jon Silverman In November 2002 the Home Secretary, David Blunkett, told a London conference Britain was facing a growing threat from Balkan crime gangs, who make vast profits by smuggling – whether guns, drugs, or women destined for the sex trade. The following month two Albanian cousins were given long jail sentences for living […]
…”Even other prostitutes are suspicious of claims that the eastern European women are victims of exploitation. Niki Adams of the English Collective of Prostitutes said all the Albanian women she had met had claimed to be “working independently” and none had said she was being exploited by criminal racketeers. “There are a number of women […]
Your cover story (Review, last week) repeats misinformation aimed at promoting new anti-trafficking laws. An unbiased look would spot that such laws would remove the requirement for the victim to give evidence against her abuser, thus enabling her immediate deportation. The use of anti-trafficking as a means for deportation was exposed in last year’s Soho […]
In many countries, including Britain, governments are introducing legislation against trafficking under the guise of protecting women from violence and exploitation. Feminists have initiated or supported such moves, and few have cared to look at what their effect is on the women they are supposed to protect. Recent police and immigration raids are telling. On […]
You report claims that the Albanian Mafia has taken over Soho (“SoHopeless”, June 23rd). This is a government fabrication aimed at justifying a police clampdown on prostitute women there and laying the basis for anti trafficking legislation that would increase police powers at women’s expense. In 1999, we successfully opposed attempts by Westminster Council to […]
Vulnerable women need protection, not deportationEnglish Collective of Prostitutes response toSetting the Boundaries, Reforming the Law on Sex OffencesWe oppose the introduction of a specific trafficking offence. We oppose the introduction of a new offence of trafficking. The recent police and immigration raids on over 50 flats in Soho leave no doubt that trafficking is being […]
The ECP submitted evidence to the 2000 Government consultation: Setting the Boundaries, Reforming the law on sex offences. We opposed a new offence of trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation as, based on the experience of women in our network, anti-trafficking laws are systematically used – not to protect victims – but to arrest […]
We condemn last week’s police and immigration raid on women working in Soho as a violation of human and legal rights (Foreign bodies, Women, G2, February 20). In the name of “protecting” women from trafficking, about 40 women, including a woman from Iraq, were arrested, detained and in some cases summarily removed from Britain. If […]
TRAFFICKING AS AN EXCUSE FOR DEPORTATIONEmergency protest against mass deportations1-2pm Home Office, Queen Anne’s Gate, London, 16 February 2001Yesterday the police raided over 50 flats in Soho and arrested approximately 60 women. Over 35 women, some are mothers, are being held and immigration authorities are threatening to deport them in the next few days. Police said […]
Vulnerable women need protection, not deportationUnder the guise of concern for women who are being trafficked into Britain, Home Office ministers, police and academics are discussing measures to tighten immigration controls and increase police powers. This would make women more vulnerable.Immigrant women who are victims of violence and exploitation have said over and over again […]