UK government unveils sex trafficking task force

LONDON, June 22 (Reuters) Britain is to create a dedicated police-led task force to combat the sex-trafficking of women, the UK Human Trafficking Centre.

The announcement came at the conclusion of a four-month long police operation that resulted in the rescue of more than 80 women, some as young as 14, believed to have been trafficked mainly from Eastern Europe, Africa and the Far East.

Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker announced the task force at a news conference in London where the results of Operation Pentameter were unveiled by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

''These women were conned and deceived into believing a better life was awaiting them in the UK,'' said South Yorkshire's Deputy Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell, who led the operation.

Instead, they were subjected to ''horrific'' acts of violence, rape and enslavement.

Maxwell stressed the crackdown was only ''the tip of the iceberg'', and that there was much more work to be done.

Coaker said the government was determined to do all it could to eradicate the trade.

''We will not tolerate sexual trafficking in the UK. It is our aim to stamp out modern day slavery,'' he said.

The centre, to be based in Sheffield, will work closely with local and national police, NGOs, charity agencies, as well as the victims and members of the public.

REUTERS VJ BST0530