PSNI unit has rescued more than 100 trafficking victims

More than 100 victims of human trafficking have been rescued by the PSNI since a specialist unit was set up two years ago.

Detectives in the Modern Slavery Human Trafficking Unit say they are determined to disrupt and frustrate the gangs involved in this hidden crime, which destroys lives.

There are 300 live policing operations targeting modern slavery throughout the UK and 21 of them are being led by the PSNI.

The number of people in Northern Ireland who are victims of modern slavery is unknown because the nature of the crime means it often goes undetected.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Bell said: “A victim of sexual exploitation could be potentially locked in a house, not knowing when that door is going to open, not knowing who is going to come in and see them, not knowing when they are going to be moved on or where they are.

“Some of the victims we have seen have suffered very visible injuries, black eyes and bruising to the body, but it’s not just the physical abuse that we see, it’s psychological too.”

Since the creation of the unit in April 2015, over 100 victims have been recovered.

To date, from 2016 to 2017, they have been 34 potential victims - 12 men, 22 women and six children - the majority of whom were rescued from sexual exploitation.

Victims can be from a huge range of countries, including China, Romania and Zimbabwe and while all are different, many of them have been suffering in silence.

“It can be a hidden problem because the victims are afraid to come forward, they’re maybe under threat,” continued Mark Bell.

“There’s one extreme where victims are foreign nationals and can’t speak a word of English, or mightn’t know what country they’re in, scared to speak out or seek help.

“The other extreme could be where victims are in the labour industry and under so much fear and control but yet have the freedom to go to work and back but mightn’t have access to wages or a contract, or any money or food to eat.”

The police carried out 27 searches and arrested 10 people. Six are currently awaiting trial.

Anyone who has suspicions about potential cases of exploitation, or who has any information on human trafficking, is asked to come forward to police.