Written question asked by John Austin (Labour) on Tuesday, 13 October 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 19 October 2009. It was answered by Alan Campbell (Labour) on Monday, 19 October 2009 on behalf of the Home Office.

Human Trafficking: Greater London

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with the Metropolitan Police Service on the future of its specialist unit to combat trafficking in human beings; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: The deployment of resources and staff is a matter for the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.Human trafficking is core police business and, as such, work to combat this crime should be mainstreamed into existing budgets.The Government provide additional funding of £435,000 to the Metropolitan Police for the current financial year to enable them to do so in line with other forces in England and Wales. This was done on the basis that such work would be funded from within their existing budget from the financial year 2010-11.

Secondary information