A NEW police unit is to target criminal gangs bringing Eastern European women to London to work as sex slaves.

Every year, thousands of women from impoverished rural areas are smuggled into the country by human traffickers with the promise of a good job and a high salary.

But instead of a new life, traffickers seize their passports and paperwork and decide where they go and what they will do.

Many are made to work as prostitutes or in hard labour for little or no pay, and it's known that some are forced to make organ donations to earn their freedom.

According to the latest government statistics, an estimated 4,000 people were trafficked into the UK for prostitution.

The figure has at least tripled since 1998.

The Lithuanian government today said the UK was the number one destination for girls trafficked into the sex industry.

About two-thirds of the estimated 1500 people trafficked from the Baltic States - primarily Lithuania - are brought to the UK.

Commander Sue Wilkinson said modern day slavery was a growing problem throughout the world.

"Trafficking is a global problem affecting every continent and most countries around the world," Commander Wilkinson said.

"The victims, who can be male or female, adults or children, are trafficked for exploitative labour or forced prostitution work."

The Human Trafficking Team will be comprised of 11 officers with expertise of dealing with organised immigration crime and financial investigation, as well as experience in dealing with rape victims.

A Home Office spokeswoman said the UK Action Plan on Human Trafficking was due to published in the next few months.

She confirmed the Prime Minister's intension to sign the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, which will introduce new measures to prevent trafficking and pursue criminals.

Last month, Tony Blair said people and child trafficking was an "abhorrent modern form of slavery" that the government was committed to tackling.

Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said human trafficking caused terrible trauma to its victims.

"Those involved in the trafficking of men, women and children can expect to feel the full weight of the law when they are caught," he said.