New legal status for UK Human Trafficking Centre

1 April 2010

The UK Human Trafficking Centre becomes part of SOCA today. Since its creation the Centre has been hosted by South Yorkshire Police and has had no legal status of its own. The move to SOCA is intended to provide long term legal status, reflecting the UKHTC's national functions and the high priority of tackling the criminals behind human trafficking and supporting the victims of it. Home Office minister Alan Campbell said:

“The UKHTC is a key body in our overall efforts in combating trafficking and the Government is committed to ensuring its continued success.  Our intention has therefore always been to preserve the UKHTC’s identity whilst ensuring it has a suitable legal status.  This change will achieve these objectives.  We will preserve the UKHTC’s character and functions – this includes its strategic objectives, its brand identity, its multi-agency composition, close working and connections with stakeholders, and its own management board.” 

SOCA already has staff in the UKHTC and works closely with all its members.

Visit the UKHTC pages for more. Information on human trafficking is also available on our Threats pages.