Two Albanian traffickers, Taulant Merdanaj and Elidon Bregu, are the first to be convicted of human trafficking in the United Kingdom.

On 23 December, the two were tried and found guilty under a new law against trafficking for sexual exploitation, which came into effect in last May under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

The men lured two women from Lithuania, promising them work as waitresses in a nightclub. But when they arrived, Merdanaj and Bregu took their passports and held them against their will in Bregu's flat in Sheffield, forcing them to work as prostitutes as repayment for the costs of their flights.

In the landmark case, Merdanaj was convicted of trafficking people into and within the UK for sexual exploitation and rape, and sentenced to 18 years in prison. Bregu was sentenced to nine years for trafficking within the UK.

In another positive move, the Home Office announced on 1 December, that trafficking for forced labour or organ removal was now an arrestable offence. Under the Asylum and Immigration Act (treatment of claimants etc.) 2004, offenders face up to 14 years in prison.

These are significant steps, but it is vital the UK Government provides protection and support to all people who have been trafficked on the basis of their being victims of a crime, rather than linking help to co-operation in an investigation.

Trafficked people should be allowed to stay in the country for at least three months. This 'reflection delay' would give the trafficked person time to assess his or her situation and receive specialist help and support in a safe environment as well as disrupt the traffickers' networks.