Sex trafficking op 'rescues 46'

People smugglers force women to work in the illegal sex trade

A UK crackdown on sex trafficking has rescued 44 women and two teenage girls allegedly forced into prostitution.

There have also been 154 arrests as part of Operation Pentameter, launched in February across the UK and in the Irish Republic and Channel Islands.

The alleged victims are largely from eastern Europe and the Balkans.

Pentameter director Deputy Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell hailed a "degree of success" but said the aim was a situation of "no victims at all".

Almost 400 operations have been carried out, with 19 forces in England, Scotland and Wales rescuing women thought to be victims of sex trafficking.

They are mainly aged 18 to 22, with one 15-year-old, one 17-year-old and the oldest aged 39.

They largely come from eastern Europe and the Balkans, with others from Thailand, China and Brazil.

Charges

Mr Maxwell, of South Yorkshire Police, said: "Given the fact that our main aim is to identify and rescue victims, these figures represent a degree of success.

"Conversely, I'd have to say that long term success is looks very different.

"We're aiming towards a situation where we have no victims at all - that's when we know that enforcement and awareness raising have really disrupted the market for trafficked women in the UK."

Eleven forces have charged people with trafficking offences, while other charges brought as part of Pentameter operations include kidnapping, false imprisonment, controlling prostitution and rape.

"Even in cases where we haven't found trafficked women, the exercise of going in to these venues helps to reduce the demand for victims," Mr Maxwell added.

"It reinforces the fact that we police the problem proactively and robustly - actively seeking women who need our help and can lead us to trafficking gangs."

Operation Pentameter also involves the Home Office and the Serious Organised Crime Agency.