Britain’s spooks have a new mission – to fight people trafficking and stop illegal immigration and modern slavery

THERESA MAY has controversially ordered spy chiefs into the fight against illegal immigration and modern slavery - as she demands global action against the scourge.

The PM today urged world leaders to make tackling people trafficking as important an issue as winning the war on drugs.

And she revealed the heads of Mi5, Mi6 and GCHQ would be joining Ministers on a new 'anti-slavery' taskforce.

They will be charged with foiling gangs bringing hundreds of immigrants across the Channel every year and tricking them into a life of forced labour.

Unveiling her vision at the UN General Assembly, Mrs May urged other nations to follow suit and pool resources to help an estimated 45 million slavery victims around the world.

But the order will spark controversy as it threatens to tie up officers on her pet cause and drag precious resources away from battling international terrorism.

As Home Secretary, Mrs May championed the Modern Slavery Act which became law last year.

Speaking ahead of the summit, she said: "We owe it to the innocent men, women and children who are being tricked into a life of hard labour and abuse to rid our world of this evil.

"Just as criminals cross borders, so we need a radical approach that crosses borders - sharing intelligence and joining up investigations.

"This is standard in the case of drugs trafficking and the trade in illegal firearms and there is no excuse for our law enforcement authorities failing to do this when it comes to modern slavery."

She added that just as Britain led the way in banning slavery two centuries ago she was "determined" the UK would lead from the front once again.

The summit was led by the UK and attended by a host of world leaders from Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull to Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.

The UN believes 80 per cent of Nigerian women who have arrived into Italy this year will be trafficked into prostitution.

The Government will spend £5 million in overseas aid in Nigeria to help anti-trafficking agencies.

Theresa May in July announced she would be earmarking £33 million from the aid budget for tackling modern slavery in 'high risk' countries.

Speaking today she said: "I am determined that the United Kingdom will once again lead the way in defeating modern slavery and preserving the freedoms and values that have defined our country for generations."