On Monday 26 March 2018, the Modern Slavery Police Transformation Unit, which is based in Exmouth, published its first annual report.
The report highlights the work of the Unit since it was set up in April 2017 to help forces support vulnerable victims and bring more perpetrators to justice.
The report demonstrates the significant increase in the number of modern slavery operations being led by the police, with the number of live operations tripling since 2015, when the Modern Slavery Act 2015 became law.
National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Modern Slavery, Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer, says:
“The Modern Slavery Police Transformation Unit, funded by the Home Office, is supporting forces and other agencies to improve the way modern slavery is tackled in the UK, and this rise is partly down to the increased awareness and proactivity of police.
“It means police are identifying more victims of modern slavery than ever before, ensuring they get the support they need and exploitation is stopped. Identifying and investigating modern slavery is rarely clear cut. But the increase in police-led operations shows that police are recognising the signs of this incredibly complex crime.
“However, we know there is still work to do and we will continue to improve how we deal with modern slavery and support victims."
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