Sussex records nearly 200 modern slavery offences since last year
The figure has dropped by a third in the last 12 months
Sussex Police have recorded 195 Modern Slavery offences in the last 12 months, including trafficking, with almost half the victims being children.
The figure has dropped by a third since last year, possibly due to the impact of the pandemic.
Over half of Modern Slavery crimes in Sussex relate to criminal exploitation from gangs and County Drug Lines.
Next on the list were labour exploitation, sexual exploitation and a small number of reports of domestic servitude and forced marriage.
Last year, Sussex Police and partners marked Anti-Slavery Day with a UN Sustainable Goals pledge to become a slavery free community.
The pledge outlined how partners would work with multiple bodies, including: national and local government, law enforcement agencies and local communities.
On behalf of all Sussex partners, Detective Chief Inspector Kris Ottery of Sussex Police said:
"The Sussex Anti-Slavery Network and other modern slavery partnerships across Sussex have adapted to the challenges of the pandemic including how exploiters may evolve to exploit resulting vulnerability, supporting a number of initiatives and intensification periods to respond to local concerns."
The operational activity has resulted in 48 arrests of suspected perpetrators of Modern Slavery in the last year.
Moreover, prohibition and enforcement notices have been issued by a range of partners in relation to living, working and environmental conditions.
A recent example includes a multi-agency operation at a car wash in West Sussex, for which a Slavery and Trafficking Risk Order was secured at Court as a longer-term prevention measure.
In the last 12 months there were also 141 referrals into the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) where modern slavery or trafficking was reported to have taken place in Sussex.
The NRM is a framework for identifying and referring potential victims of modern slavery and ensuring they receive the appropriate support. It is used by a wide range of first responders including the police.
Most NRM referrals related to exploitation by gangs and County Drug Lines, followed by labour exploitation and sexual exploitation. Almost half of the potential victims were aged 16 or 17 years old.
Brighton & Hove City Council’s lead councillor for modern slavery Lizzie Deane said: "We’re asking everyone to be alert to signs of modern slavery and human trafficking and to report anything they think is suspicious.
"If you notice anyone with an unusual change in behaviour or mood, strange relationships or with unexplained access to money, please take action."