David Davis, Shadow Home Secretary, unveiled proposals to combat human trafficking that he called "a hideous trade in human misery, which is spiralling out of control".

Despite his party's previous opposition to signing the European Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings, Mr Davis now said he was confident it would not attract more immigrants to Britain.

The Government has so far refused to sign up to the agreement, which grants victims of human trafficking at least 30 days to recover from their ordeal and reflect on whether they will help police with a prosecution against offenders.

Mr Davis said: "There is something the Government should do tomorrow and that is sign the European convention against trafficking. The Government has avoided doing this - I don't really understand why.

"I do not believe that by giving civilised treatment to the victims of this trade - allowing 30 days' reflection whilst they are ready to go and become witnesses - that that will actually be a pull factor. Just the reverse."

Currently, the Home Office decides the fate of human trafficking victims on a discretionary case-by-case basis. The majority of victims are taken to removal centres straight away, with a view to being deported.

The Conservatives argue that removal centres, like the one in Harmondsworth, West Drayton, West London, which saw rioting in November, is the wrong place to house victims, many of whom have been forced into prostitution under the hands of criminal gangs.

The party cited the Poppy Project as better practice. Under that scheme victims of trafficking for prostitution are placed in a 25-bedroom safe house and given a 28-day period of reflection. If they decide to co-operate with a prosecution, they can stay for up to 12 weeks before being deported.

Mr Davis said: "This year marks the anniversary of 200 years since William Wilberforce, a man from my part of the world, ended the abhorrent slave trade.

"Yet whilst we celebrate this, it is important to remember those who are victims of what the UN has termed 'the modern slave trade'.

"Human trafficking is a hideous trade in human misery, which is spiralling out of control at the moment. We must stop ignoring it and start to tackle the criminal gangs who perpetrate it, and to protect the victims of it."

Mr Davis said other measures include a helpline for victims and increasing the number of safe houses for people rescued from trafficking, especially children. He also repeated his party's intention to create a new border police force to reduce the number of people entering the UK illegally.

According to Home Office estimates there were 4,000 victims of trafficking for prostitution in the UK during 2003 at any one time. In the same year, human trafficking was estimated to cost the UK £1 billion in economic and social costs.

However, there have been only 30 convictions for trafficking offences between 2004 and last year, the Conservative said.

Liam Byrne, the Home Office minister in charge of immigration said that the matter was currently being considered by the Home Secretary and that there was no time limit on which a signature must take place.

He said: "The UK Government is firmly committed to tackling trafficking in human beings.

"No-one should be under any illusion - unless we introduce identity management and ID cards, we will not be able to effectively fight human trafficking or for that matter identity fraud, organised crime or illegal immigration."

Tim Hancock, of Amnesty International, said: "The Conservative Party's support indicates once again that human trafficking is a serious human rights issue requiring urgent attention and that the European Convention is a good way of ensuring victims of this nasty trade are protected.

"Organisations who work closely with victims believe the Convention would guarantee protection for the people they support."

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