African children trafficked to the UK for 'juju' blood rituals

The Met, CEOP and ECPAT UK revealed this week that over the past four years in excess of 400 African children have been trafficked to the UK for juju blood rituals.  Trafficking for this purpose is clearly on the increase and should ring alarm bells for safeguarders countrywide.  A belief amongst some cultures in the power of human blood is playing a part in the demand for these African children.  The children are exposed to horrific abuse involving the forced extraction of blood - one boy described how 'witch doctors' took hair, cut his arms and legs - his head and genitals - to collect the blood.  The trafficking of Ugandan children for this purpose is causing particular concern.  If we are to prevent the reoccurence of another 'Adam' then we must be vigilant in our communities to the possibilities of the traffickers living amongst us.  There is a culture of disbelief around trafficking - many people still believe it is the stuff of 'Silent Witness' and 'Taken', Holywood scriptwriters fiction.  We must work to raise awareness and spread the word if we are to prevent, protect and prosecute.