Sex trafficking inquiry fails to trace any evidence of forced prostitution

In what was billed as the largest ever investigation into the practice of sex trafficking for the purposes of prostitution, the results have failed to identify a single individual who was forced into the practice.

The investigation was a collaborative effort by nationwide police, specialist agencies and various government departments and was carried out over a period of six months. The findings have caused media outlets to suggest the government has overstated the nature and scale of sex trafficking in Britain, something which has been seized on by media and politicians alike after several former and current MP’s have complained in the press that thousands of women were imported for the practice.

So strong have been the arguments against sex trafficking that the government is currently debating the final phase of a bill which criminalises any man who engages a controlled woman for the purposes of sex. The contentious wording has led to many in the industry claiming they would be exposed to security fears when operating without a guardian and the move to push customers away may lead to unsafe sex practices in a bid to retain business.

Last year the government heralded the success of Operation Pentameter Two which was credited with the arrest of over 500 criminals involved in sex trafficking. However, the true figures show that despite the combined efforts of all 55 English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish police forces only 15 people were ever convicted in what was called the largest ever crackdown on human trafficking. The police struggled even to find any traffickers to arrest.

Of the 528 actual arrests, 122 never happened and over 200 were of women with no ties to trafficking. A further 150+ had been released by the time the police trumpeted the success of the mission while the majority of the remainder were charged with immigration or non-trafficking offences.

A total of 67 people were eventually charged, with 47 never making it to court. Of the five men that were jailed for trafficking, all were initially arrested prior to the launch of Pentameter. Police have said that the issue was a very real one and one which remains a priority.