Police and Border Force officials linked up for a new campaign aimed at eliminating the scourge of modern slavery at Stansted Airport over the weekend.
Several hundred passengers were spoken to and flights monitored as part of a day of action at Stansted Airport to raise awareness about modern slavery and human trafficking.
On Saturday several hundred passengers were spoken to and flights monitored as part of the operation at Stansted Airport to raise awareness about modern slavery and human trafficking.
Officers and Specials from Stansted Airport joined forces with Border Force to identify potential victims, gather intelligence and raise awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking.
During the operation, officers monitored a wide range of flights and spoke to hundreds of people in an attempt to identify potential victims and give passengers information on how to spot the signs and report suspicious activity.
Special Constable Paul Duke and Special Sergeant William Anderson who volunteer their time policing Stansted airport supported the operation too.
Trafficking of people is a serious crime and a violation of Human Rights.
A person is trafficked if they are brought to (or moved around) a country by others who threaten, frighten, hurt and force them to do work or other things they don’t want to do. Human Trafficking affects people of all ages, gender and race.
Modern slavery includes people who are forced to work against their will or controlled by a so-called `employer’ who uses mental or physical abuse or the threat of abuse.
Alongside forced labour, modern slavery also includes crimes such as sexual exploitation.
The airport is one of the largest in Britain with flights arriving and departing to destinations across Europe – including parts of the continent where human trafficking and modern slavery are considered to be very serious problems by those enforcing Britain’s borders.
For more information on how to spot the signs and how to report human trafficking and modern slavery, please call the National Modern Slavery helpline on 0800 0121 700 or visitwww.essex.police.uk/beavoice
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