Potential victims of modern slavery and child trafficking safeguarded in Thames Valley
Officers identified and safeguarded them during a week of activity
Officers have identified and safeguarded 20 potential victims of modern slavery and child trafficking in the Thames Valley during a week of activity.
Working in partnership with the National Crime Agency and Europol, officers from Thames Valley Police safeguarded the potential victims following a week of activity under Project Aidant.
It was part of a Europe-wide operation, involving 19 police forces from across the UK and other partners including Border Force, Immigration Enforcement, British Transport Police, HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Work and Pensions.
During the week of action, a number of offences involving drug supply, immigration and trafficking offences were also established in the Thames Valley.
Officers also delivered a presentation to around 150 students at a college in Bracknell, visited a number of hotels, car washes and nailbars, offering support and advice to employers and employees, and stopped and searched a number of vehicles.
The Thames Valley Violence Reduction Unit supported the operation, using its analytical capabilities to look across a range of information held on different police systems, building risk-profiles for individuals.
It helped identify more than 80 people subject to a combination of risk factors, such as previous connections to organised crime, having been involved in drugs or violence or being subject to a multi-agency management plan.
Every person received a review of their situation and, where necessary, visits were carried out to assess whether further support or safeguarding actions were required.
Chief Superintendent Jim Weems, Head of Force Intelligence and Specialist Operations, said:
"Our week of action, working in partnership, created significant intelligence and identified a number of vulnerable individuals, for whom safeguarding has been put in place.
"Our actions have helped to ensure a number of individuals are no longer at risk of modern slavery and human trafficking, while the intelligence gather identified a number of possible offences for which investigations are continuing.
"Modern slavery and human trafficking is absolutely abhorrent, and Thames Valley Police remain committed to ensuring that any such offences are investigated thoroughly and offenders brought to justice.
"We remain committed to ensuring the safety of vulnerable people, and would always urge the public to contact us if they have any information that could help us to safeguard anybody at risk of such offences.
"You can report to us online or by calling 101, or for 100 per cent anonymity, by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."