Human trafficking officers share expertise with Romanian police

Human trafficking detectives from Kent Police shared their expertise in protecting vulnerable people with officials from one of Europe’s worst affected countries.

Romania has one of the highest rates of human trafficking in the European Union, with 368 Romanian victims being registered by the British referral mechanism in 2020 alone.

A number of organisations gathered to discuss the issue and share advice at Kent Police’s base in Coquelles, France, on Friday 12 November 2021.

These included Border Force, the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority and five officers from the Romanian Border Police.

Detective Sergeant Stacey Chapman of Kent Police delivered a presentation on the work of the force’s dedicated modern slavery and human trafficking team.

She said:

‘Modern slavery and human trafficking are two of the fastest growing international crimes and it is therefore important that law enforcement agencies across the world work closely together to tackle this dreadful industry.

‘It was a privilege to be able to share our experience with the Romanian officers and talk about the work of our dedicated modern slavery and human trafficking team, which not every police force has. I was also able to explain our approach to safeguarding victims, who are at the heart of everything we do. It is important to remember that at the centre of every investigation is somebody who has been exploited and who may need our help.’

Spot the signs

Modern slavery could be happening in your community but the signs that could indicate someone is a victim are not always obvious.

Here are some you may notice:

• Do they look scruffy, malnourished or injured?

• Are they acting anxious, afraid or unable to make eye contact?

• Are they working long hours, wearing unsuitable clothing or have the wrong equipment for their job?

• Are they living in an overcrowded or poorly-maintained property?

• Do they behave like their life is being controlled by someone with authority over them?

For further advice and details on who to report any concerns to, visit our modern slavery page.