Tackling modern slavery
With representatives from businesses across the county, the event brought speakers from a range of backgrounds to explore potential issues for businesses and how to spot the signs of modern slavery.
This builds on the work being done in Lancashire to tackle modern slavery, including training sessions which have seen over 500 people trained from across the public sector and non-governmental organisations.
Also a recent ‘table top exercise’ worked through different scenarios on how to spot the signs of modern slavery and how different agencies roles and skills can help get people to safety.
The Commissioner’s office also links in with other organisations nationally, sharing best practice and ensuring that all the work in Lancashire is consistent with approaches across the country.
He has also invested in specialist roles which play a role in tackling modern slavery, within Lancashire police.
Lancashire’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Chris Webb, said:
“Tackling modern slavery is a key priority for the Commissioner and events such as this play an important role in raising awareness and helping those being exploited, whilst bringing offenders to justice.
“We know there are vulnerable victims out there and businesses, like every organisation across the county, have a role to play in helping Lancashire police take necessary action to protect them.
“The resources that the Commissioner has put into this fight places us at the forefront of anti-trafficking work nationally, and is a really important part of making our communities safer.”
DS Abi Finch-Hall from Lancashire Constabulary said:
“We have welcomed the opportunity to spend a morning with Lancashire businesses to raise awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking and to make businesses aware of how they can identify those who may have been trafficked or protect themselves and their working practices from exploitation. We are really pleased that businesses in Lancashire recognise this issue and are willing to work with us and partners to eradicate slavery in Lancashire.”
