Police believe that small
business owners and independent traders could be best placed to help victims
escape the exploitation by spotting the tell-tale signs on the doorstep.
It is hoped that around 50
representatives of local businesses will attend a conference at the Riverside
Cricket Ground in Chester-le-Street on Monday, March 18 from 1pm-5pm at which
experts will spell out the scale of the problem and what can be done to tackle
it.
The “Modern Slavery Is Closer
Than You Think” conference, sponsored by Durham Police, Crime and Victims’
Commissioner and Durham Constabulary, will feature guest speakers from a
variety of organisations including the national modern slavery helpline, the
Gangmaster and Labour Abuse Authority and charity Changing Lives.
Organisers hope that the event
will help local businesses learn how to identify modern slavery, report their
concerns and better understand the nature and scale of the problem in our area.
Typically, modern slavery
features illegal exploitation, which the victims feel they have been coerced
into and cannot escape - for example forced labour, sexual exploitation,
domestic servitude or cannabis cultivation.
Across the country, it is estimated
that incidents of modern slavery have increased by 17% since 2015.
Detective Inspector Tonya Cook,
of Durham Constabulary’s Serious and Priority Crime Team, said: “The conference
is designed to raise awareness of the problem in the community and encourage
reporting of the issue to the police.
“Modern slavery may not be very
visible, but it is closer than you think.
“Local businesses have a crucial
role in helping us gather intelligence and respond to areas of concern.
“Those businesspeople who go to
people’s front doors – the taxi drivers, the mobile hairdressers or the milkmen
– can make all the difference by reporting their concerns to the police.
“Hotel receptionists in
particular are perfectly placed to spot the signs of sexual exploitation”.
Places at the conference are
free, thanks to funding from the Durham Police, Crime and Victims’
Commissioner, but must be booked in advance.
To book a place, please email verna.fee@durham.pcc.pnn.gov.uk
no later than 5pm on Wednesday, March 13.