A PAIR of Oxford schoolgirls are hoping fellow pupils will take notice of their attempts to raise awareness of human trafficking.

Cherwell School pupils Delilah Bannister and Catrina Smith, both 15, of North Oxford, are campaigning to raise awareness of the shocking issue.

The pair posed in the boot of a car alongside heaps of junk, with signs explaining what was on sale – toys, electrics, DVDs and girls.

Delilah said: “This is something we feel quite passionate about that not many people seem to be aware of.

“We are trying to show that people don’t always know what’s happening in the same way they do with other crimes like drugs, rapes and murders.

“Sometimes it can be right in front of your nose and it’s not that obvious.”

As well as the photoshoot, the girls plan to present assemblies and school lessons on the topic, and are aiming their campaign at children from the age of 12.

The campaign is part of their GCSE citizenship project, and was inspired after watching the film Taken, about a young woman kidnapped by human traffickers.

Delilah said with increased coverage of the issue following the Operation Bullfinch arrests and ongoing trial of a series of men arrested for sexual offences against children in Oxford, it seemed like a good time to campaign on the issue.

She said: “We are trying to raise awareness that girls are being treated as objects. “We thought now people are finally thinking about it maybe we should raise more awareness.

“The second Taken film has come out recently and that has a 12 certificate so children from the age of 12 can go and see it. They should be able to find out about the issues in schools too, just like other crimes.”

As part of the project, Delilah and Catrina plan to get in touch with human trafficking organisations and approach them about taking assemblies.

Delilah said: “We see people doing assemblies all the time about sexually transmitted infections, rape and murder, they do role plays and things but you never really come across human trafficking. We are 15 and we only just know about it, there are people in Year 7 who may not know anything about how serious human trafficking is and that it happens a lot more than people are aware of.”

Cherwell School headteacher Paul James said: “The active citizenship projects that our students undertake help to raise awareness of a range of important issues.

“We support them in school by having students take assemblies and run stalls at break and lunchtimes so that others in our community become better informed.

“ These girls have put considerable effort towards increasing others’ knowledge about human trafficking.”

Jon Brown, head of strategy and development and sexual abuse at the NSPCC, said: “What these two schoolgirls are planning to do is a fantastic example of the sort of prevention work we need to see in all schools across the country.”

Any adult with concerns about a child should call the NSPCC’s helpline on 0808 8005000. Children who need someone to talk to should call ChildLine on 0800 1111.