WARRINGTON Police are urging members of the public to report suspected brothels following the arrests of a man and woman at Orford for human trafficking and prostitution offences.
The 39-year-old man and 21-year-old woman were arrested in the Orford area on Friday and have subsequently been charged with offences relating to human trafficking and prostitution.
Police are now urging members of the public to call 101 to report suspected brothels which they say are modern day slavery.
Human Trafficking and modern slavery are not matters the police can address on their own. Agencies and other organisations from both the public and voluntary sector are actively involved in addressing these heinous crimes.
Cheshire Police play a key role in the Cheshire Anti-Slavery Network, a multi-agency group that is committed to working together to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking.
Potential victims are likely to be extremely vulnerable. They may fear revealing their status or experiences to state authorities and will often mistrust individuals in authority.
Their ability to participate in any future proceedings, for example as a witness, will depend largely on their psychological, emotional and physical health.
Front line practitioners have a responsibility to put the potential victim at their ease as far as they are able. There may be language and communication barriers, including literacy or learning disabilities, as well as cultural considerations.
On initial contact, victims may appear unwilling to co-operate, especially if they are in the presence of their controller/traffickers or around other victims. It is likely that the victim has been isolated from family or friends and is living in an unfamiliar country or area. In addition to feelings of fear and intimidation, they may feel dependent on their controllers/traffickers who may be individuals well known to the victim. It’s possible they may not understand the concept of trafficking and slavery or indeed identify themselves as a victim.
Victims of these types of crimes suffer a wide range of psychological and physical problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder. They may have been vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections, or may have been exposed to hazardous materials or dangerous working conditions. They could have been deprived of food, sleep or kept in slave-like conditions. Some victims will require immediate medical attention and counseling.
Cheshire Police ensures that the appropriate physical healthcare and psychological support is provided to all victims in a timely manner.
1 Comment
You don’t tend to think of things like this actually going on here in little Warrington. Quite shocking really…. well to me anyway