16/06/2013 Sunday Politics North West

victims of sexual exploitation. The charity changing the lives of

women trafficked for prostitution. Should the authorities be doing

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 2353 seconds

Rescuing the victims of sexual exploitation.

The charity changing the lives of women trafficked for prostitution: I

was repeatedly beaten and raped. And joining us this week, the

Conservative MP for Chester, Stephen Mosley, and Yasmin Qureshi, the

Labour MP for Bolton South East. It looks like unemployment is falling

and the economy is improving. rates have gone down considerably.

That is not a healthy sign. That is the main criticism. In terms of

living standards, this is the greatest squeeze in living memory.

It has been a difficult period of time. We are aware that things are

proving to be difficult. But we are trying to make sure that things

turned a corner. Unemployment is down by 25% in Chester. There is

good news out there, but a lot needs to be done.

I don't like to worry you, but a report out this week says that here

in the North West, we are at greater risk of dying early than anywhere

else in the country. The worst on that list of 150 local authorities

is Manchester. But not far behind are Blackpool, Liverpool, Salford,

Knowsley, Blackburn and Tameside. So can we just blame social

deprivation? The report by Public Health England says we can't,

because it has compared them with similar places elsewhere. So why

after years of funding and public campaigning hasn't the story

changed? Burgers, fizzy drinks, cigarettes,

booze and a lack of exercise. Lifestyle choices reducing the

lifespan of people living in the North West. The early death league

table has already alarmed local authorities. Now responsible for

public health in England who say it oversimplifies complex health

problems The report shows people living in the worst performing area,

Manchester, are more than twice as likely as people in Wokingham, in

Berkshire, to die before the age of 75. This is about allowing a

conversation to understand why some areas are doing better than others.

Millions of pounds have been spent on healthy living campaigns like

these, but public health experts say the message isn't getting through.

For people living in more disadvantaged areas, they are

trapped in poverty. They did not choose a crummy house or to send

their children to a weak school, they did not have the choice. To

pick on the victims and see it is their fault to be per and their

fault to be weak and powerless, their fault to be unhealthy, is

outrageous. The big health bus took its message to Manchester. We are

bringing the message to people to give them the information they need

give them the information they need to help make informed choices.

Rotheram, where Jamie Oliver's school dinners crusade made national

headlines, the report seems to show deprivation has not been a barrier

to reducing premature deaths, but not everyone is convinced. Rather

has its own protective factors. I would be sceptical that obesity

intervention targeted at a few people will make such a difference.

So, as local authorities get to grips with public health, will they

be able to change our tastes? What is the point of this new table

and this website? It is to allow local authorities to see what the

situation is in their own areas. If there is a problem with smoking,

obesity or drinking, it allows councils to see what the problem is

and what action is required. Fundamentally, the problem is

poverty. It's not really poverty. It's things like alcohol abuse,

obesity and smoking. Local authorities that tackle that are

having an effect on the mortality figures. The University professor is

saying that fundamentally the real issue here is actually one of

poverty and whether you have a job or a good education. Well, that is

one of the reasons why were looking at the situations and seeing people

are better off in work and that leads on to the welfare agenda that

we have. We want to reform the welfare system to encourage people

to get jobs and play an active and healthy role in society. Actually,

if you do compare places in the north-west which are been

particularly badly, for example Manchester, if you compare that to

somewhere else which is also deprived, we are doing worse than

anywhere else. What is the explanation for that? There can be a

number of complications. But -- poverty has a lot to do with it. The

education system might be better in some areas, for example in schools.

More work is being done, extra work, to ensure people lead more

healthy lifestyles. You are just reframing my question which is why

are those better in equivalent places elsewhere than the

north-west? In Bolton, you get �77 per person, in Westminster it is

�130. There is a difference in the funding that councils are getting.

They have to deal with the issue of educational people. National

solutions don't work. That is why the government introduced this in

April where local authorities are responsible for this. The government

have rings -- ring fenced �5.5 million for public health. People

will wonder why millions has been spent over the years and there has

not been much progress. We're looking at a national situation. As

we saw in the film, differences exist in local areas. Different

places have different needs. National approaches don't work. By

giving the money to local authorities so they can decide what

happens in their local area, we can start to get rid of some of these

discrepancies. I have no problem with local authorities being asked

to look into this issue. The question is how fear that funding

will be for each authority. Until now, public health issues have been

part of the national agenda. I think it is right that local authorities

are being given this. Went we have seen what is working, the allocation

of money will change. Let's leave it there and move on.

A shambles and a catastrophe. That was one recent verdict on the

government's attempts to tackle people trafficking. Accurate figures

are impossible to obtain. But you can be sure that many women will be

living in the North West virtually prisoners and many trapped in the

sex industry. Now one charity in the region is trying to rescue them. Our

reporter has been invited to meet two of the women. Her report does

contain descriptions of abuse. It is thought that thousands of

people are smuggled into the UK every year, with many of them being

forced to work in the sex industry. But girls from the UK are also being

trafficked, exploited and abused. We have been speaking with two victims

from the North West who are too frightened to be identified.

didn't get fed, I got hit ,raped, I wasn't even allowed to have a

shower. Natasha's story is harrowing. At the age of 14, she

went on holiday to Mediterranean. And was befriended by a man who sold

her into a life of sexual slavery. was once forced to sleep with over

100 men in the space of 18 hours. I was in pain. They would tell me to

do it without condoms. I was repeatedly beaten and raped. I was

just a normal 14-year-old girl, I suppose. I liked shopping, hanging

out with my friends. But one night that all changed. I met a woman at

my local takeaway who I kind of knew. She invited me to a party. She

seemed really nice, so I went along. When I got there, I felt

uncomfortable. There was a group of men and she forced me to have sex

with one. She said she had taken photos of me and would put them on

Facebook so everyone would know. From there, the blackmail continued.

In the end, I was being forced to have sex with up to four men a day.

She would take me all over the place so men could force me to do things.

I felt embarrassed, worthless. I had caught STDs and all sorts. I tried

to kill myself a couple of times. is incredible to think that this is

still going on in our time. Both women were eventually rescued by the

charity SAFE which is based in the North West. It has been set up by

three former police officers who work closely with the sex industry

in order to rescue victims who are being exploited. We get information

from people who really know about the types of threats out there.

Close calls come from sections of the sex industry, from men that

sleep with women and from women that work in the industry. We can get

real information about people who are trafficked or are under age.

Home Office believes that there are around 4,000 victims of sex

trafficking in the UK. But many fear this is just the tip of the iceberg.

I think the honest answer is that we don't have a very good handle on

what is the size of the problem. Home Affairs Select Committee are

calling for a coordinated approach in tackling the traffickers. This

information needs to be held centrally across the four

restrictions of the UK. Ahead Commissioner with overall

responsibility is what many organisations want. That is a

recommendation that I will put forward. The criminal underworld

earns millions of pounds from trafficking and will not easily give

up illegal earnings. The challenge for police forces is to find the

traffickers and to persuade those abused to give evidence. Keeping the

public safe is one of my top priorities. It is a serious priority

for Merseyside Police. We have centralised public protection

services, so there are specialist units working to protect children

from sexual exploitation, working to prevent trafficking of vulnerable

people. The cycle of abuse often makes victims feel isolated and

alone and traffickers rely on this to keep them in the shadows. But

both Jody and Natasha say with the help of SAFE they have been able to

escape a life of exploitation. I started getting my self-confidence

back. I go to college. Ever since the charity came into my life, I

know what the word freedom is. And we are also joined by David

Anthony, who used to be head of Special Operations at Greater

Manchester Police. How much of our priority is trafficking for the

police? Trafficking will be a major priority for the police, especially

the exploitation of vulnerable younger royals who are subjected to

the most horrendous abuse. Trying to find out who's behind that and to

prevent them from getting involved in this type of life which is

horrendous is a major priority for the police. The problem with recent

grooming cases and abuse in the home is, what it is the extent of people

being trafficked into the country and where are they being kept in

safe houses to be abused in the way that they are? To what extent do you

believe that the police are having success? This charity believes more

can be done. I think that is a fair assumption that more can be done.

This is linked to organised crime. Criminals are bringing people into

this country and trafficking them within the country. They are

subjected to the most appalling degradation and abuse. It is not

just an issue for the police, but also for social services and law

enforcement at Borders. Is this a very difficult trying to identify

and solve? Or is it that the police have other priorities? It is

difficult because the girls have been trafficked into the country, so

how are they getting in through border agency checks without being

alerted. A great deal can be done around the awareness. People must

see young girls being brought into houses and a must see the amount of

people coming to these houses to abuse these girls. What is the

solution? We need a number of approaches. On behalf to be

resourced probably on this. Also social services and schools need to

be more vigilant. Children must be made to feel that they are confident

young people and are able to approach teachers and adults.

Parents have to be informed that this is a much bigger problem than

we think it is because, I think, so far over the last few years people

haven't really spoken about this. it a problem in Bolton? I have not

come across a case of trafficking in Bolton, but I know there will be

sexual abuse within the home taking place. Not because Bolton is

susceptible, but because that happens across the country. We need

to recognise the fact that there is a much bigger problem than we think

it is. I remember 15 or 20 years ago, men were prosecuted for

becoming pimps. They were forcing young ladies to become prostitutes.

This is not something new. But finally people are willing to talk

about it and come forward. Authorities must be given more

resources to deal with this. There must be a joined up approach.

Resources are scarce as you know. Why has the government is not got a

grip on this? The government in 2011 launched its policy in this area.

The first strand was identification and support for the girls.

Secondly, it was working in foreign countries, mainly eastern Europe, to

try to solve the problem at source. Also to work with the border

controls. Lastly, a joined up approach with the police to bring

everybody together so there is a big focus on this. Evidence given to the

home affairs committee is contrary to that. It points out 17 ministers

have different parts of responsibility and there is contrary

to that. It points out 17 ministers have different parts of

responsibility and there is no coordinator. There is a complete

lack of figures. It am not saying it is a rosy picture. The last

government did some work in 2003. The current government have

continued that on. In 2011, the launched their strategy. We have all

of the police focused on this abhorrent and brutal crime. Do you

feel reassured? Not at the moment. Can I touch upon this issue? I

remember when I was working in Kosovo 13 years ago helping to draft

laws about safeguarding women. A lot of these women are told there will

be a job. But then it turns out they will be pimped in a brothel. We need

them to know they can go to the authorities without fear of the

portion. A lot of talk your about the police needing priorities and

resources. Resources are scarce, but police will deal with this because

this is linked to serious and organised crime. Charities have

given them intelligence which will be vital in combating this. But it

is not just the police, it is a law enforcement problem.

And if you are worried about anybody, then here is the number for

SAFE. Give them a call on 0844 800 8563.

Time for the rest of the week's news now in 60 seconds.

Pay up, Peel. The chair of the Commons Public Accounts Committee

called on the owner of Mediacity to stump up its fair share in tax. Peel

says it has done nothing wrong. Priced out of the market. The number

of people in their 30s in Cumbria has dropped by more than 10% in ten

years. Campaigners say people can't afford to live there. We need to

keep young people in rural areas to keep communities going economically

and for them to remain viable. The families of two Merseyside men

killed in the Algerian hostage crisis took their campaign for

answers to Westminster. Paul Morgan and Garry Barlow were among those

killed at a BP gas plant. The leader of the BNP and North West

MEP Nick Griffin fought back after criticism of his visit to the Assad

regime in Syria And hitting the buffers. Britain has enough

problems. We should keep out of other peoples wars. Network Rail has

rejected plans for a direct train service between Blackpool and

London. Virgin Trains plan to appeal.

That meeting of the Public Accounts Committee was three floors above

this studio. Here is what Margaret Hodge had to say. The company on the

whole, at maximum pays 10% corporation tax. Maximum. We do not

create their fair share of corporation tax. When you are using

taxpayers money, it ought to be both countries that pay their fair share

back into the communal pot. Do you agree that the Peel group should pay

more tax? I think our tax system is outdated. We now have global

communications and global money flows. The system was set up in the

1920s. David Cameron has the G8 summit in Northern Ireland and he

has made this a priority. I think all companies should pay the tax

that they all. The problem is when you have companies not paying

enough, it is not their fault that they are taking advantage of the

system. It is the fault of politicians for not having a system

that ensures they are paying the right levels. Do you agree with

that? Or is it creative accounting? Tax evasion is an lawful but tax

avoidance is lawful. I agree that we need to relook at the whole issue

about how taxes should be paid, especially corporation tax is with

the global economy. Whatever is felt is the appropriate level of

corporation tax, that should be paid. This company is driving

forward the regional economy and redeveloping things. It is great

they are doing that, but they are subject to laws. They will comply

with the current laws. The issue, whether it is Google or Amazon or