All Wales Anti-Slavery Week Of Action

As part of our commitment to the All-Wales Anti-Slavery Week officers from North Wales Police in partnership with Home Office Immigration colleagues have conducted an operation this week aimed at individuals who may have been exploiting workers in the ‘domestic labour’ market. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This week’s activity also combines raising awareness to break down the traditional views of slavery, offer support to victims and make Wales hostile to perpetrators of Modern Slavery. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Detective Inspector Gary Kelly at North Wales police said “This week’s action was aimed at identifying potential victims of forced domestic labour and where appropriate taking steps to ensure their safety and where appropriate prosecuting offenders. Forced labour is very often over-looked in terms of modern slavery but research and experience tells us it is one of the most prevalent aspects of Slavery. It can often take years for victims to either disclose their abuse or break away from their abusers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This week our officers have conducted a number of visits to locations across the force area to ensure that oversees domestic workers were being employed legally, were being treated with respect and care and were not being exploited.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Frontline officers have been trained to identify the warning signs of those who are most vulnerable but we need our communities to be our eyes and ears. We cannot rely upon victims to come forward and report abuse, because many will be unaware of their abuse and the crime remains hidden in plain sight. There is a social responsibility upon us all to do all we can to protect vulnerable people. No matter who the offenders are, whether they are working alone or with others and regardless of the community to which they belong, we are resolute in our determination to identify them and bring them to justice.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The campaign is designed to support those affected and highlight that there is confidential and professional support to encourage people to come forward to ensure they are safe from harm – and ultimately prosecute offenders. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

North Wales Police is committed to working with the Welsh Government Anti-Slavery office and all our partners to tackle the issue on a daily basis. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​