Police and partners working together to tackle modern slavery

Police and partners have been developing intelligence surrounding modern slavery, and are encouraging people to report any suspicions they have regarding this particular crime type.

The intelligence-gathering process, which includes reviewing and verifying information provided to us directly by the public, helps us identify certain parts of the county that are affected, and historically the shoreline in the Hill Head area has been raised as an area of concern.

We have received a number of reports over the years of large groups of people cockle picking in this area, with our enquiries focusing on the suspected exploitation of workers tasked with collecting the shellfish.

As a modern slavery task group – which includes the police, the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU), Hampshire County Council and Fareham Borough Council – we have carried out operations in the area which have involved intercepting this activity and safeguarding any potential victims of exploitation.

This multi-agency operational activity went ahead again on Monday 12 September this year, based on intelligence developed by the partners, and fortunately no offences or victims were identified on this occasion. We are confident that as a result of the partnership intervention work we have seen a significant decrease in the activity in this area, and a reduction in the number of reports made to police.

That is not to say we are being complacent, however. This type of work continues nationally, as well as locally, and we continue to encourage people to report incidents to us so we can continue to monitor and develop the intelligence picture.

Thousands of people from across the world are being exploited in conditions of slavery here in the UK.

Modern slavery could be happening in your community so it’s important you know the signs that could indicate someone is a victim of this crime.

The signs aren’t always obvious but there are some that you may notice about a person or group of people: 

• do they look scruffy, malnourished or injured?
• are they acting anxious, afraid or unable to make eye contact?
• are they doing long hours, wearing unsuitable clothing or have the wrong equipment for the job?
• is where they are living overcrowded, poorly maintained or are the curtains always closed?
• do they behave like they’re being instructed by someone else, picked up/dropped off at the same time and place every day or don’t have access to money or identification?

If you suspect someone to be a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking, contact the 24/7 Modern Slavery Helpline on 0800 0121 700, or 999 for emergencies. You can also contact Hampshire Constabulary on 101, or via the reporting tool online here: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/

You can also contact the GLAA at [email protected]

Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their anonymous online form at crimestoppers-uk.org