Funding won to tackle modern slavery

Two bids for £1,000 have been won and breakfast training events will be held in the county early next year with some of the funds.

Small businesses across the county are already encouraged to be more vigilant by signing the commissioner’s pledge to eradicate modern slavery.

Currently only businesses with a turnover exceeding £36 million are required by law to ensure their supply chain is free from slavery.

Businesses across the county have already committed their support but the additional £1,000 funding for business events from the Modern Slavery Police Transformation Programme will enhance the ongoing work, getting the message across to a wider range of organisations.

Deputy Staffordshire Commissioner Sue Arnold, who leads on modern slavery on behalf of Matthew Ellis said: "Successful businesses are the lifeblood of thriving communities and play a key part in eradicating modern slavery.

"Gaining support from SMEs and raising their awareness of the issues will ensure that this illegal activity is brought to a halt."

The first allocation of funding will enable breakfast training events to be held in the north and south of the county to raise awareness of the commissioner’s pledge to eradicate modern slavery.

These training sessions will encourage firms across the area to be alert and look out for signs of potential victims of slavery, which could include distrust of authorities, psychological trauma and restricted movements within a limited area.

Companies are being alerted that victims of modern slavery can be prevalent in certain sectors, including nail bars, car washes, agriculture and fishing, building sites and the sex industry, or with seasonal staff and construction activities for major events.

A further successful bid for £1,000 will also enhance the commissioner’s work to support a partnership approach to tackling the issue in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

A local modern slavery training framework has been developed to enable organisations to prioritise their staff for training and to identify what type of training is required. The funding will provide valuable ‘Train the Trainer’ sessions across the county, equipping delegates with a good understanding of modern slavery and the referral process once a victim has been identified.

Sue added: "Modern slavery presents a great number of overlapping issues and crimes which require a strong coherent partnership approach.

"This funding will help us develop a pool of trained, knowledgeable facilitators who will be fully equipped to confidently deliver training sessions and spread the message to end this abhorrent crime."

The training breakfasts and ‘Train the Trainer’ sessions will both take place in the north and south of the county in early 2019.