Many Brits jailed for human trafficking
Tue Jun 23, 2015 11:19AM
".....There have been several high
profile stories that hit the headlines over the past year in Britain,
stories that portray migrants in a negative light. Many of them are
desperate and in search of a better life from countries that many argue
Britain has destroyed or destabilised through war and foreign policy.
But most argue that the gangs who make a profit out of the desperate
struggle need to be stopped and brought to justice...."
Nearly 100 British people were jailed in France last
year as they attempted to illegally smuggle people through the port of
Calais.
Around
100 British people were jailed in France last year as they attempted to
illegally smuggle people through the port of Calais. The deputy prosecutor for the Calais region's main court, Julie Colaert, said that people from Britain account for a substantial amount of the people smugglers, second only to Eastern Europe. “In the last two years we have seen more and more English smugglers,” She said.
"Trafficking gangs are employing them to take people across in their own cars…the migrants pay a lot of money because it's sold as guaranteed passage to the UK."
Basir Haji is one of the men accused of people smuggling and has been jailed for 12 months. He claims that he was desperate after spiralling into debt through gambling losses. He was charged with trying to smuggle two Iraqi men into Britain in the boot of his car, charging them £500.
Emmanuelle Osmont, a French lawyer who represented Basir Haji, has explained how people who are desperate to enter Britain approach potential smugglers. He said "the first approach might be in a café…they make friends... and bit by bit they become interested in them, asking them about their personal and professional situation.It can take weeks, but when they have formed enough of a bond, they present the human trafficking as a way of helping friends or family fleeing war or persecution."
There have been several high profile stories that hit the headlines over the past year in Britain, stories that portray migrants in a negative light. Many of them are desperate and in search of a better life from countries that many argue Britain has destroyed or destabilised through war and foreign policy. But most argue that the gangs who make a profit out of the desperate struggle need to be stopped and brought to justice.
LM/HA