Cambridgeshire police launch human trafficking awareness campaign

Cambridgeshire Constabulary will be focussing its efforts on tackling human trafficking this month and members of the public are being asked to help raise awareness of the issue.

Human trafficking has becoming an increasing problem across Europe and the UK in the past few years and officers say that recent investigations show that it’s happening in Cambridgeshire, too.

In May, a series of raids were carried out in Fenland to tackle gangmasters and workers who had been trafficked into the country illegally.

Now, East Cambridgeshire residents are being asked to make themselves familiar with the signs and open their eyes to human trafficking.

Detective Sergeant Alan Beach, force intelligence lead for human trafficking, said: “I’m asking members of the public to take the time to familiarise themselves with the common signs of trafficking - it’s happening all around us yet often it goes unnoticed.

“The human trafficking section of the force website has lots of information about the different types of trafficking, and most importantly, how to spot the signs – it’s so important that we are all able to recognise it as for offenders the risk of getting caught is low yet the profits are high, we all need to be aware so we can help put a stop to it.

“We’re doing all that we can to put an end to human trafficking in Cambridgeshire but without people coming forward and giving us information it makes it much more difficult.”

Anyone who suspects human trafficking is happening around them, whether it may be where they live, work, socialise, should report it to police by calling 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 – that piece of information, no matter how big or small, could potentially save someone’s life and give them back control.