Memorandum submitted by Paladin
INTRODUCTION
This submission explains the contribution made
to counteract child trafficking in London through a child protection
partnership initiative based at London's ports.
INFORMATION
1. Paladin is a joint agency team of Metropolitan
Police (London) and Border Agency officers working together to
safeguard children at London's Ports. The team covers all Ports
in London, particularly Heathrow Airport and the Asylum Screening
Unit (ASU) at Croydon (a designated port as defined by BA). Other
significant locations are St Pancras Station (Eurostar trains)
City Airport and Victoria Bus Station.
2. The Paladin Team consists of 1 Detective
Inspector, 1 Detective Sergeant, 4 Detective Constables and two
Border Agency staff. The Police officers were all trained and
experienced in child abuse investigation prior to this posting.
The team works closely with children's services, particularly
with their Port specialist teams at Heathrow Airport and the ASU.
Currently only two of the six police posts are funded (by SCD5
BWT). There is no funding from REFLEX or other sources.
3. Vigilance at the port of entry to the
UK presents a significant opportunity to identify and safeguard
vulnerable children and prevent harm. Therefore, the Paladin Team
works with all relevant agencies and commercial companies to raise
awareness and identify children at risk. This training and liaison
ensures that the Paladin Team can provide early intervention and
advice on complex multi agency child safeguarding issues. Child
trafficking features in a significant proportion of the cases
undertaken by the Paladin Team. Therefore, by experience, they
have become expert in this work.
4. Results over the past 12 months include
195 children being accommodated by children's services as a result
of Paladin intervention. 12 traffickers of children have been
convicted by the team (two successful cases received national
media coverage; Sandberg and Quainoo) and 3 operations were passed
to SOCA regarding child trafficking networks. The Paladin Team
has also provided a significant contribution to the CEOP strategic
threat assessment on child trafficking.
5. The ACPO Child Trafficking Steering Group
has identified the Paladin Team as best practice and the Head
of the Paladin Team has been closely involved in a working group
to agree a safeguarding model, based on Paladin, which will be
rolled out across the UK. CEOP are supporting the development
of a Paladin Manual for this national roll-out, based on the Paladin
Team practices.
6. The Paladin Team has hosted numerous
visits from other British Police forces and international police
visits. Paladin Team staff have presented at several major trafficking
conferences, including the Organisation of Security and Cooperation
in Europe. The Head of Paladin team was invited to Vancouver to
advise the Winter Olympics 2010 re trafficking issues. The team
has also contributed to the wider child trafficking environment,
for example to the International Organisation for Migration Handbook
Investigation of Trafficking for Law Enforcement Agencies
and the DCFS Working Together Manual on Trafficked Children. Paladin
has received visits from high-profile politicians (Vernon Coaker,
Dame Butler-Sloss amongst others).
7. Paladin are the recipients of recent
national awards from UKBA, ECPAT, they were also short listed
for a diversity award for the MPS.
RECOMMENDATIONS
(i) Paladin concept expanded on a national basis
to prevent displacement.
(ii) Paladin concept be regularised by the Paladin
manual.
(iii) Appropriate funding allocated.
January 2009
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