To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date she expects to launch Operation Pentameter 2; whether Devon and Cornwall Constabulary will be involved in the operation; who will be heading it; what its objective will be; what additional staff will be allocated to the operation; and what the budget will be for the operation. (155457)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: The Home Secretary will be launching Operation Pentameter 2 with ACPO on 3 October. It will be a multi agency operation, UK wide, and will involve all 55 police forces co-ordinated by the UK Human Trafficking Centre.

The theme of the operation will be the same as last year and will aim to tackle trafficking for sexual exploitation.

The operation will be funded through existing resources. The UK Human Trafficking Centre receives a budget of £5 million per annum to support counter trafficking activity among local forces.