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17 July 2008 : Column 604W—continued
Human Trafficking
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many instances of human trafficking for sexual purposes were discovered in each of the last three years; from which countries the persons arrived; and how many successful prosecutions resulted. [219056]
Mr. Coaker: Under Operation Pentameter 1 (which concluded in 2006) there was a total of 88 victims recovered who originated from a number of countries primarily in Eastern Europe, the far east and South East Asia, Africa and South America. Under Operation Pentameter 2 (which concluded in 2008) there was a total 167 victims recovered from similar regions.
Since the inception of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 there have been 84 successful prosecutions of people for human trafficking offences, many of whom also received sentences for related offences. Under Pentameter 2 there were 528 arrests. We therefore expect the number of successful prosecutions to rise in the forthcoming months as such cases progress though the criminal justice system.
Human Trafficking: Repatriation
Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the 167 women and children recovered under Operation Pentameter 2 have been removed from the UK; and what arrangements have been made for those who have not been removed. [218211]
Mr. Coaker: Under Pentameter 2, 31 victims of trafficking have already returned to their country of origin voluntarily. We are aware that a number of non-EEA nationals initially believed by the police to be victims have been returned to their country of origin using immigration powers. Removal of individuals confirmed to be victims of trafficking would only be sanctioned if it was considered safe and reasonable to do so in accordance with the UK's domestic and international obligations.
Adult victims who chose to accept support in the United Kingdom will have been offered a reflection and recovery period of a minimum of 30 days, support and accommodation.
Of the 13 children recovered in the operation, nine remain in the care of local authorities and four returned home voluntarily following an assessment concluding that it was safe to do so.
Money Laundering
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment (a) her Department and (b) the Serious Organised Crime Agency has made of the extent of money laundering from social housing sales. [218278]
Mr. Coaker: The Home Office looks to the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) to make such assessments. On 6 June 2008, SOCA published its unrestricted version of the UK Threat Assessment of Serious Organised Crime which noted the attraction property has for money launderers. SOCA continues to monitor new and emerging threats to the UK from money laundering, including the abuse of ‘right to buy’ property.
Police Deaths on Duty
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police officers and (b) social workers were unlawfully killed while carrying out their duties in each year since 1997. [219007]
Mr. Coaker: Available data are from the Homicide Index and relate to offences currently recorded as homicides in England and Wales as at 12 November 2007. This is in the following table.
| Offences currently recorded( 1) as homicide where victim was killed in the course of their employment, by selected occupations, England and Wales, 1997-98 to 2006-07( 2, 3) | ||
| Number | ||
| Victim occupation | ||
| Year recorded( 2) | Police officer | Social worker |
| (1) As at 12 November 2007; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. (2) Offences are shown according to the year in which police initially recorded the offence as homicide. This is not necessarily the year in which the incident took place or the year in which any court decision was made. (3) Data for 2007-08 are not yet published. | ||
Police: Bureaucracy
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many stop and account forms have been issued since their introduction, broken down by police force area. [219146]
Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
Data on stops and account are collected by police force area and are published in the ‘Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System—2006-07’ report for the first time this month
This information is contained in the following table, but can also be found in Table 4.9 of the report.
| Total stops, by police force 2005-06 to 2006-07 | |||
| Police force area | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | Total |
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