Two hundred years after Hull's William Wilberforce led the Parliamentary campaign to ban slavery in Britain, we have to take action to tackle what amounts to a modern form of slavery - human trafficking.

Exploitative and inhumane, the existence of human trafficking is a scar on our society. Indeed, it is estimated that there are between 2,000 to 3,000 trafficked women and children in the UK. Moreover, taking action is difficult because trafficking is inextricably linked with transnationally organised crime. It is a problem that can effectively be combated by EU countries working together, sharing information and best practices on prevention and support for victims.

Two weeks ago, the UK government signed the EU Convention on human trafficking, while the "Pentameter" action plan, set up by the Home Office, has focused on policing and raising people's awareness of human trafficking. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) has recently been established in Sheffield, with further centres to be established around the UK.

We are all responsible for tackling this crime. If people have concerns that someone they know or have come into contact with has been trafficked, it is vital that they contact their local police station!

For further information on the UKHTC and the EU convention on human trafficking please visit www.ukhtc.org.