PRESS ASSOCIATION -- Police will work with foreign countries to stop trafficked women and children arriving in Britain rather than rescuing them when they are already here, the Government has said.
Immigration Minister Damian Green said a "renewed" focus would be targeted on stopping potential victims coming to the UK through halting would-be people smugglers at the border.
In a written ministerial statement to Parliament announcing the coalition's plan, "Human Trafficking: The Government Strategy", Mr Green said greater work was needed to tackle gangs hoping to smuggle people into the UK to become sex slaves or illegal workers.
He said: "The UK is already a world leader in the fight against trafficking, but we recognise more can be done with international partners to reduce the threat from overseas.
"The strategy recognises the importance of working with source and transit countries to target and disrupt the work of traffickers and prevent more vulnerable men, women and children from becoming trafficking victims."
Some victims saved from their gang masters or pimps are sent home only to be re-trafficked either to Britain or other countries while others claim asylum and state benefits because they say it is unsafe for them to return home.
Mr Green added: "The strategy also sets out our aim to better co-ordinate our border and policing law enforcement efforts to prevent traffickers from entering the UK.
"We will use intelligence to target those convicted or suspected of trafficking at the border as well as developing risk-based indicators to facilitate the systematic targeting of high-risk passengers."
He stressed arrangements for helping victims in the UK remained "central to the Government's approach", saying methods for dealing with adult victims would be strengthened.
Mr Green said: "This will ensure victims have access to the care they need, tailored to their particular circumstances and in line with our international commitments."