The National Crime Agency has today released details of a week-long operation targeting modern slavery across the UK and Europe

 

The week of action, which took place in June, was led by the NCA in the UK working in collaboration with 18 police forces, Border Force and Immigration Enforcement.

Their activity resulted in the arrests of 44 people for offences including human trafficking and the identification of 35 potential victims of human trafficking, including 18 children. Welfare and safeguarding checks were also carried out at business and residential premises.

Overall, Europol co-ordinated activity in 16 EU states, as well as Iceland and Switzerland saw more than 200 potential victims identified and safeguarded overall.

 

Dame Sara Thornton, Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, said:

“Modern slavery is a complex and often cross-border crime. These results show how an intelligent, whole system approach to tackling modern slavery can lead to significant disruption of human trafficking networks and the safeguarding of many vulnerable victims of this terrible crime.

It is vital that a collaborative approach – as shown here by the NCA, police forces and others – continues as we push forward the fight against modern slavery in the UK and beyond, working in partnership with our allies across Europe.”

 

Read more on the National Crime Agency website.