Crime Reduction Toolkits

Trafficking of People

Referral information for victims
 

If any agency identifies someone they believe to be involved in trafficking they should bring this to the attention of the police and, if they are a foreign national who is not resident in the UK, the police will refer to the local immigration office.

Victims who have been identified by police and taken under their protection should have their needs addressed through the normal handling of their case. Other victims who are still under the control of their exploiters, but who nevertheless may be coming into contact with statutory or voluntary agencies, may find it useful to have access to referral information giving them routes to access additional help when they decide they need it.

Referral information for resources that can be useful includes:

• Local organisations specialising in working with trafficked women;
   

• Organisations specialising in working with trafficked women in relevant home countries;
   

• Free health services, general practice, reproductive health, hospital services;
   

• Legal services;
   

• Shelter services;
   

• Language training centres.

Free legal advice is available from:

The Immigration Advisory Service
2^nd Floor, County House
190 Great Dover Street
London SE1 4YB
Tel: 0207 357 6917
www.iasuk.org

Refugee Legal Centre
Nelson House
153-157 Commercial Road
London E1 2EB
Tel: 020 7780 3200
www.refugee-legal-centre-org.uk

Asylum Aid 
28 Commercial Street
London E1 6LS
02073775123
www.asylumaid.org.uk 

It is important to realise that women may be punished or in danger if pimps, agents, and/or ‘owners’ find them with referral or assistance information in their possession. It may be useful to have contact information for referral services written on a small card that she may take and keep hidden for future reference if and when she decides she needs it. Such information needs to be available in a variety of languages.

Helplines are further possible source of information and advice. It may be possible to combine helpline services on trafficking with those for other forms of exploitation. Even though there may not be any specialist trafficking support services in the area, there will still be a range of relevant services available from agencies including health, legal advice/citizens advice, victim support and possibly refugee organisations. 

 

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