Met acts to stop child trafficking

Scotland Yard has set up a child protection unit to combat alleged illegal trafficking of children to Britain in the wake of the Asian tsunami.

The Metropolitan Police have decided to set up the intelligence cell amid claims of sexual exploitation and trafficking of children orphaned in the disaster.

A police spokesman said: "This initiative will provide a central point of contact for all British personnel involved in protecting children displaced by the tsunami."

Met intelligence officers will work with children's charities and British officials in the disaster areas. Any suspicion of attempts to smuggle children will be relayed to the unit.

The Indonesian government has already frozen any movement of children outside the affected areas to reduce the threat.