A Cardiff Council Scrutiny committee is to meet to look at how the council deals with the issue of trafficking adults for sexual exploitation, or, as it is more commonly known, sex trafficking.
A Task Group from the Community and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee has been formed.
The aim of the Task Group and the scrutiny committee as a whole is to recommend a clear strategy for the council when dealing with the issue of the trafficking of adults for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
During the investigation the Task Group will hear from external organisations and other local authorities on how they provide support to victims of trafficking.
Speaking to the task group will be members of the Community Addictions Unit, Amnesty International, Black Association of Women Step Out (BAWSO), and Glasgow City Council, who will outline how their organisation assist victims of sex trafficking.
It is difficult to quantify the extent of sex trafficking in the city. However, a recent Amnesty International report, entitled ‘Trafficking for sexual exploitation in Wales, Update 2010’ concluded that trafficking for sexual exploitation continues to be a part of the sex trade in Wales, though it remains an under-reported crime.
However, research suggests that it is a crime that unfortunately is on the increase. With this in mind the scrutiny team felt it was an area that needed to be looked into and investigated.
The Task Group will meet to initially discuss these issues on Tuesday, October 26, following Anti-Human Trafficking Day and Anti Slavery Day, on 18 October.
On 9 December, the Task Group will report back to the full scrutiny committee with their findings. A report will then be prepared which will detail the committee’s findings and recommendations, which will be put to the Council’s Executive board in early January.
Executive Member for Communities, Housing and Social Justice, Cllr Judith Woodman, said:”Unfortunately research suggests that sex trafficking appears to be on the increase across the whole of the UK.
“I am pleased that the Community and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee has decided to carry out this investigation, their findings will help us develop the current strategy we have in place in dealing with this crime.”
Chair of the Community and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee, Cllr Ralph Cook, said: “A number of members of the committee were keen for us to hold this investigation and to hear from other organisations on how they deal with the issue of sex trafficking. Although it’s unclear how prominent the crime is in the city, the committee feel strongly that a robust investigation should be carried out in order for us to make recommendations to the Executive.”
