Thursday, March 22, 2012

#Oxford : #OSCP - Child Sexual Exploitation Group In Oxford

Sexual exploitation and trafficking are crimes that you would not associate with Oxford. However, a recent case at Oxford Crown Court highlighted that these crimes were happening in Oxford. Thankfully, these crimes are rare, but it is important to raise awareness to prevent further crimes taking place.Child sexual exploitation is a major child protection issue for communities across the UK, where vulnerable young girls and boys are groomed and then abused, leaving them traumatised. It is illegal activity by people who have power over young people and use it to sexually abuse them. It can involve a broad range of exploitative activity, from seemingly ‘consensual’ relationships often with older men or women and informal exchanges of sex for attention, accommodation, gifts or cigarettes, through to very serious organised crime.

Latest estimates by the police suggest there could be as many as 18,000 trafficking victims being forced to work as prostitutes in the UK.

OSCP now leads on a group that tackles these issues.  The Oxford Human Trafficking Group is made up of representatives from Oxford City Council, Thames Valley Police and Oxford Community Against Trafficking (OXCAT). 

A recent campaign saw caged women and "pimps" dressed in black and pink stage a protest against trafficking and human slavery in Oxford. Posters were located around the city advertising the OXCAT website - which provides information about trafficking - and letters were sent to all the hotels and B&Bs in Oxford making staff aware of the issue of trafficking.

Therer are also links to other web sites that provide more information about sex exploitation, trafficking and slavery.

http://saferoxford.org.uk/sex_exploit.html

http://sexoffendersinpositionsofpower.blogspot.com.es/2012/03/oxford-child-trafficking-police-arrest.html