Hastings event tackles modern slavery

Police and fire officers joined staff from Hastings Borough Council, Hastings Voluntary Action and AmicusHorizon for training in how to tackle modern slavery.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Apr 2016, 11:22 BST
Updated 12th Apr 2016, 11:32 BST

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Picture: ShutterstockPicture: Shutterstock
Picture: Shutterstock

The ‘train the trainers’ event, hosted by King’s Church Hastings, was run by national organisation Stop the Traffik, which has a branch based at King’s Church.

Around 30 senior public sector staff attended the training, which equipped them to teach their colleagues how to spot the signs of human trafficking and what to do when they do.

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Sergeant Chris Varrall said: “Human trafficking is a real problem that occurs in all towns and villages across the UK. This training has enabled us to be able to train police staff and officers across Sussex and raise awareness in communities, which in turn will reduce the harm caused to those real victims who suffer on a day-to-day basis.”

Hastings borough locality manager George Wippich added: “People trafficking is something that we all should be aware of, but even more so for services working with the public in the way we do. It was a highly informative day working with other agencies to spot the signs of people trafficking in our communities and showing how we play our part in the fire service to help stop the abuse of vulnerable people.”

The training was funded by AmicusHorizon, Hastings Borough Council via the Joint Action Group (JAG) fund, and King’s Church. The Hastings Anti-Trafficking Hub regularly brings together all of the organisations involved in the training, with the aim of tackling modern slavery in our town.

Florence Docherty, from AmicusHorizon, said: “It’s frightening how many people are trafficked, but it’s great to know where we can refer trafficked people and the help that’s available to them and their rights.”

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Anna Wilson, who heads up Stop the Traffik Hastings on behalf of King’s Church, said: “There are an estimated 35.8 million men, women and children trapped in slavery across the world today. Modern slavery in the UK today includes sex trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude, as well as other types of slavery.”

Anyone who suspects that human trafficking is happening near them can call the Modern Slavery Helpline on 0800 0121 700 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

For more information about the Hastings Anti-Trafficking Hub, email [email protected].

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Related topics:PoliceHastings