New war on slave traffickers

The Government today launched a fresh clampdown on people-smuggling and revealed plans for tougher sentences on slave traffickers.

New legislation will make it a specific offence to bring people into the UK illegally to be exploited for their labour.

The Government fears thousands of immigrants are smuggled into slavery by organised gangs. Home Office minister Beverley Hughes announced new laws which will give traffickers up to 14 years in jail, matching legislation for smuggling prostitutes.

She also announced extra funding for the joint police and immigration unit which tackles trafficking gangs.

In another development, Home Secretary David Blunkett was embroiled in controversy after saying that the 172,000-a-year net inflow of migrants to Britain was " permanently sustainable".

He told the BBC's Newsnight: "We've always been a crowded, vigorous island. I see no obvious limit."

Later he accepted that in some areas people felt "swamped" by new arrivals but insisted no ceiling should be placed on the population.