Human trafficking is the movement or recruitment of people through control or coercion for the purpose of exploitation.
Human trafficking is the movement or recruitment of people through methods of control or coercion for the purpose of exploitation for profit.
Transport hubs, haulage routes and freight vehicles are being used to traffick people in and out of the UK, so when you’re on the road it is important to be aware of the signs to look out for.
Learning to spot the signs is the first step to tackling human trafficking, and it could be the difference needed to save someone’s life. Here are some things to look out for:
Think about your safety first:
Be mindful of road danger and do not approach the scene. Stand away and try not to be seen by suspects or victims and report from a safe distance. Reports from a first witness are the most important and most valuable to the police, giving them an accurate commentary of the incident.
Remember it could be a crime scene:
Attempting to rescue someone or to intervene may impact valuable evidence and cause risk or injury to yourself and to others.
Location: GPS co-ordinates, road names, nearby towns or villages.
Vehicle Information: Number plates, colour of vehicle and container, company name.
Suspect and Victim Descriptions: Age, gender, ethnicity, height, clothing etc.
Movement: Which way were they going? Were they on foot or in a vehicle?
Photos or Video: Capture evidence of the above without being seen if you can.
if you see something that doesn’t look right it is important that you report your suspicions. If you think that someone is in immediate danger, then call 999.
This report will be escalated to the appropriate authorities and/or services and will feed into an ever-growing picture of trafficking trends, hotspots, and incidents to help us understand and prevent human trafficking and modern slavery.
To anonymously report a crime:
Crimestoppers | 0800 555 111
You can download the STOP APP for free on iOS or Android in the app store to report suspicions. Find out more about the STOP APP in the banner below.
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