The organisation which works with prostitutes Ruhama says last year saw a 22%rise in demand for its services.
The 2009 annual report from the group shows nearly 1/3 of the 196 women who sought assistance were victims of sex trafficking.
In 2 cases the women were children at the time of being trafficked.
Sarah Benson from Ruhama says women working in prostitution reported horrific levels of sexual, physical and emotional abuse.
“The experiences we’ve heard from women who were trafficked – and other women who have..come to be involved in prostitution through other avenues – are actually shockingly similar” she said.
“Nearly every woman we will work with has been raped, has been beaten, has experienced some form of coercive control (such as) emotional abuse” she added.
