HOLIDAYMAKERS will be able to report suspected
paedophiles to UK police while overseas as part of a
ground-breaking new project inspired by Travel Weekly.
For the first time, the Crimestoppers line will accept calls
from holidaying Brits in The Gambia as part of a crackdown on child
sex tourism that blights the East African nation. Meanwhile,
operators TUI and First Choice will distribute awareness-raising
information – designed by Travel Weekly and featuring the
Crimestoppers number – about the problem of under-age
prostitution to encourage clients to be on the lookout for child
abusers.
The project has been developed by the Home Office committee
looking at consumer attitudes to child sex tourism. Travel Weekly
was in the group, along with the Federation of Tour Operators,
ABTA, child sex charity ECPAT UK, Crimestoppers, the National
Criminal Intelligence Squad and the Government.
The report’s findings – revealed exclusively on page
24 – show holidaymakers are more inclined to support
companies that point out their chosen destination might have a
problem with sex tourism. It also showed clients would be more
likely to report suspected abuse if they were given advice about
what to look out for.
ECPAT UK co-ordinator Carron Somerset said: “We’ve long
argued travellers want to know what’s happening in resort.
There is a lack of information about what people should do if they
see something suspicious.
“Getting the message out deters potential sex tourists. They
could be put off by the publicity material – or more likely,
deterred by the thought that other holidaymakers might see them
doing things they shouldn’t.”
As part of The Gambia project TUI and First Choice will develop
policies on sex tourism with hoteliers and train reps.