West Yorkshire’s crime chief has helped launch the first-ever national network to support victims of human trafficking and modern slavery.
The county’s Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson teamed up with anti-slavery commissioner Kevin Hyland to set up the National Anti-Trafficking and Modern Slavery Network.
The scheme involves police and crime commissioners signing up to a more strategic approach by sharing best practice, helping identify and convict perpetrators, and ensuring chief constables are held to account on what they are doing to tackle the crime.
The network launch comes a year after West Yorkshire Police, with money from the PCC, created a dedicated human trafficking unit and after a West Yorkshire anti-trafficking and modern slavery network, that has helped train and raise awareness to over 3,000 front-line staff, was created.
Mr Burns-Williamson said: “When you look at force referral figures for human trafficking, some are low or have none at all.
“But we would be naive to consider it means a whole county or region has no victims of trafficking, so I believe this network is essential in working together to ensure this practice is eradicated as it has no place in today’s society.
“It is widely accepted that human trafficking and modern day slavery remains a hidden crime with many victims transported through different force areas, making it extremely difficult to investigate and measure.
“Given the ease and frequency of transportation victims go through, I identified the need to create more national, joined-up working to raise awareness and share good practice.”
Mr Hyland said: “This is undoubtedly a very important step forward in creating a more co-ordinated response to modern slavery.
READ MORE: Pakistani workers promised ‘an opportunity of a lifetime’ to work in Huddersfield
READ MORE: Dewsbury human trafficking gang leader jailed
“The improved communication streams and strategic direction that this network will help facilitate will enhance efforts to combat modern slavery enormously. I look forward to continuing to work closely with PCCs in my efforts to make the UK a dangerous and difficult place for traffickers.”
Nationally in 2014, 2,340 potential trafficking victims were referred into the National Referral Mechanism, the process run by the Salvation Army to support victims - a 34per cent increase on 2013.
Karen Bradley MP, minister for preventing abuse and exploitation, said: “Modern slavery is a scourge on our society, which sees organised criminals prey on vulnerable victims and trade in human misery.
“The government’s Modern Slavery Act means those who commit these crimes can now face life in jail. It has also given police greater powers to deal with these gangs and much-needed protection for victims.
“This new national network shows that by working together, we can help stop ruthless criminals from profiting from their trade.”
Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer, national policing lead for modern slavery, said: “I hope this ambitious project will help tackle this abhorrent crime, ensuring police are more effective at identifying and protecting victims and bringing perpetrators to justice.”
