Police ask public to ‘open their eyes to human trafficking
Press release
Police HQ, Hinchingbrooke Park, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE29 6NP, Twitter @cambscops_press, Tel: 01480 422393, Fax: 01480 422674, E-Mail: press.office@cambs.pnn.police.uk, Web: www.cambs.police.uk
Police ask public to ‘open their eyes to human trafficking’
THROUGHOUT August Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s Get Closer campaign will be focussing on tackling human trafficking and members of the public are being asked to help raise awareness of the issue.
Unfortunately human trafficking, also referred to as modern-day slavery, is happening right across the world and recent investigations have shown that it’s happening in Cambridgeshire too.
Members of the public are being asked if they would recognise human trafficking if they saw it. Most people wouldn’t therefore police are urging people to make themselves familiar with the signs and open their eyes to human trafficking.
There are 30 million slaves today, more than at any other time in history. Men, women and children around the world are forced to work for very little money, sometimes without pay at all, and the number of those living at risk is growing.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of the issues surrounding human trafficking among officers, staff, potential victims and members of the public and also to encourage the reporting of incidents.
Detective Sergeant Alan Beach, force intelligence lead for human trafficking, said: "I’m asking members of the public to take the time to familiarise themselves with the common signs of trafficking - it’s happening all around us yet often it goes unnoticed.
"The human trafficking section of the force website has lots of information about the different types of trafficking, and most importantly, how to spot the signs – it’s so important that we are all able to recognise it as for offenders the risk of getting caught is low yet the profits are high, we all need to be aware so we can help put a stop to it.
"We’re doing all that we can to put an end to human trafficking in Cambridgeshire but without people coming forward and giving us information it makes it much more difficult.”
Anyone who suspects human trafficking is happening around them, whether it may be where they live, work, socialise, should report it to police by calling 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 – that piece of information, no matter how big or small, could potentially save someone’s life and give them back control.
Please follow this link to access the human trafficking section of the force website
‘Stronger Together’ victim video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVcTORaHvig
For matters regarding the human trafficking campaign please contact Lauren Alexander in Corporate Communications on 01480 422579.