Modern Slavery Unit

In recognition that crimes of slavery, human trafficking and exploitation were growing in Greater Manchester, the multi-agency Modern Slavery Unit was launched as part of Programme Challenger in 2015.

The Modern Slavery Unit supports the force and partners to identify, investigate, charge and convict the highest harm offenders whilst providing safeguarding to victims and survivors. The unit has a specialist investigative team which supports divisions in complex modern slavery cases, in addition to an embedded Justice and Care Victim Navigator who works with partners to provide the highest level of care and support to survivors.

What does this look like in practice?

The unit received reports of males being threatened and intimidated, forced into work and made to live in caravans with no electricity. The unit provided initial and immediate tactical advice support and commenced critical enquiries such as obtaining CCTV evidence and speaking to witnesses. The Justice and Care Victim Navigator provided initial assistance to potential victims. Further reports were received, which led to the unit supporting local officers to make arrests, undertake searches and commence further enquiries as a result, increasing local capacity and ensuring the right capabilities were in place. The unit then commenced assessing the suspected offenders as an organised crime group.

As a member of the public please see the below resources to give you more information on human trafficking and modern slavery and the signs to look out for, how to report and also to see media resources from our campaigns that we welcome you to share.