ECPAT UK - Protecting Children Everywhere

Police uncover suspected child exploitation ring in Oxford

22 March 2012

ECPAT UK welcomes today’s arrests of 12 men in Oxford as part of an operation targeting child exploitation offences.

Operation Bullfinch by Thames Valley Police is an investigation into the exploitation of 24 girls aged between 11 and 16 years old in Oxford. Police have said they believe they have uncovered an organised crime group “running a business of selling young girls for sex” over a six-year period.

ECPAT UK campaign success – UK Government to close the ‘3-day loophole’ on overseas travel by British sex offenders

8th March 2012
The UK Government has announced that it will close the ‘3-day loophole’ in the Sexual Offences Act (2003), which currently allows registered British sex offenders to travel abroad for up to three days without having to notify the authorities of their intention to do so.

Closing the ‘3-day loophole’ has been an ECPAT UK campaign call since 2006. We therefore welcome the Government’s decision, taken on 5 March 2012, as it will force registered British sex offenders to notify the police of any foreign travel plans.

Email your MP! Ask the Government to appoint an independent commissioner on human trafficking

Human trafficking is happening into and within the UK. However, one of the major problems in the fight against it is the lack of reliable data on the scale and nature of this phenomenon. In addition, there is currently no independent oversight of the Government's efforts to tackle the problem.  

Romanian family members found guilty of trafficking seven-year-old child

13 March 2012

ECPAT UK welcomes the convictions of members of a family who trafficked a seven-year-old girl into the UK to work as a servant.

Husband and wife Aurel-Ilie Zlatea, 45, and Alexandra Oaie, 44, who are both originally from Romania, were found guilty at Croydon Crown Court on 8 March of human trafficking, assault, and neglect of the young victim at their house in Wood Green, north London.

UK must sign up to latest Optional Protocol on international children's rights legislation

28th February 2012

The Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on a complaints mechanism for children is opening for signature.

Care for child victims of trafficking set to be reviewed

ECPAT UK welcomes the Government’s decision to ask the Children’s Commissioner for England to conduct a review of how child victims of trafficking are looked after when they are rescued in the UK.

Leaflets to give child victims of trafficking advice on compensation

As a champion of children’s rights, ECPAT UK is working to raise awareness on compensating victims of trafficking. We have recognised that there is limited awareness among children and people working with them of the right to claim compensation. Therefore, in a joint venture, ECPAT UK have teamed up with the international law firm Hogan Lovells to promote knowledge of children’s rights by developing an information leaflet for distribution, ‘Compensating Victims of Serious Crime’.