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Europe's first dedicated centre for victims of people trafficking is due to open in Sheffield. The Human Trafficking Centre will aim to provide specialist care for the victims - mostly women brought from abroad and forced into prostitution. South Yorkshire Police, which runs the facility, said it would help to build their knowledge and understanding of trafficking in the UK. There are thought to be hundreds of trafficked women in this country.
'Heinous crime'
Specially trained police, lawyers and immigration officials will work at the facility.
They will continue the work of Operation Pentameter - the UK's first national campaign to target human trafficking in the sex industry.
But the Sheffield centre will also deal with trafficking involving labour exploitation, children and domestic servants.
Deputy Chief Constable Graham Maxwell called it a "heinous crime" and said the facility would take a "victim-centred approach".
"So that when a person is discovered who has been trafficked, that first point of contact is a positive one and we have the right support mechanisms in place to look after their welfare."
He said many of the victims had been forced into the sex industry and had effectively been raped up to 30 times a day - and some did not even know which country they were in.
Experts at the Sheffield centre will also offer training to police forces across the country.
The Poppy Project, which provides support and accommodation to women who have been trafficked for the purposes of prostitution, welcomed the centre.
A spokeswoman said: "The centre has the potential to subvert traffickers using the UK as a destination country.
"It also sends a message to the women on the Poppy scheme that the UK will implement measures to protect and value women who are victims of human trafficking."
pdf: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5401350.stm