Police and councils join forces to fight modern slavery

FOUR neighbouring councils, including Warrington, are joining forces with Cheshire Police to outline their vision to prevent modern slavery across the county and provide greater protection and support to victims.  
Cheshire East, Halton and Chester West and Chester and Warrington are working together to develop a collaborative approach to tackling this unacceptable and growing crime.
The aim is to identify, prevent, disrupt and stop modern slavery.
Chief Constable Simon Byrne, “Today is a great opportunity for us all to come together to discuss these important issues to find ways to
help protect and support some of the most vulnerable people in Cheshire.
“It is a sad fact of life that modern slavery is happening today, in our communities, often hidden away behind closed doors.
“Although action is already being taken by officers and partners to locate victims and trace offenders, there is always so much more that can be done and working together jointly helps play an important part in making sure we achieve this.”
Modern slavery stems from organised crime and targets some of the most vulnerable people in our society. It is largely a hidden crime coercing adults and children into a range of exploitation including trafficking, forced labour, child slavery and domestic servitude. It is unrestricted by age, gender or background.
Police and partner agencies will help deliver the two year action plan to highlight the issue in Cheshire.
Work will be carried out collectively and collaboratively between all agencies to deliver four priorities. This will involve it being essential for people across the public sector to recognise that protecting people from slavery and exploitation is everybody’s responsibility. Authorities also want to create a system which enables an effective but sustainable support for everyone affected and understanding the long term risks
associated with them. Police and partners will ensure offenders are held to account and promote appropriate prosecutions.
It is not just about educating police and partners on how to understand the impact modern slavery has on victims, how to recognise the signs of someone who is a victim and what people can do when they see them recognise but it is also important local communities understand it too.
Cheshire Police and Crime Commissoner David Keane said: “Modern slavery is a real and devastating crime, and often victims are hidden in plain sight. One of my policing priorities is to ‘support victims and protect the vulnerable’ and I fully endorse this kind of joined-up, multi-service approach which is so valuable in terms of eradicating this terrible issue.”
If anybody suspects or has any information of crimes relating to modern slavery they are urged to report it to Cheshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.
People can also call the national modern slavery helpline on 0800 0121 700.