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Child trafficking seminar held today in Manchester

02/06/2008

Immigration officials and experts are meeting in Manchester today to discuss the best ways of defeating child traffickers operating in the north-west.

The seminar is being held at the town hall and will focus on raising awareness of national initiatives aimed at combating the enforced movement of children.

Organisers hope that the event will result in closer multi-agency working, as well as new strategies to stop forced marriages, sexual exploitation and gun crime.

Pauline Newman, director of children's services at Manchester city council, said: "The exploitation of children and young adults by trafficking is a cruel and shocking trade.

"It is vital that all agencies that work with children have the skills and training to recognise when this abuse is happening and are confident and supported enough to take the appropriate action."

According to welfare charity ISS UK, many of the children trafficked to the UK come from west Africa, eastern Europe and Asia.