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21/07/2015
21 Human Trafficking Victims Rescued By Police
16 potential human trafficking victims have been rescued in south Armagh, police have confirmed.
Officers searched premises in Newtownhamilton last Friday and have spent a number of days working with colleagues in partner agencies to identify the individuals who may have been trafficked.
The operation is focused on eastern Europeans working in the agricultural sector. Detectives from the PSNI Human Trafficking Unit are working with colleagues in HM Revenue and Customs, the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, the Health and Safety Executive and local police.
The potential victims, men and women aged between 18 and 45, are being cared for by Migrant Help and Women's Aid as part of the Department of Justice's human trafficking support network. They will be assessed for referral to the UK Human Trafficking Centre which is run by the National Crime Agency.
In a separate investigation in greater Belfast, another five potential victims of trafficking have been identified and are being looked after by police and partner agencies.
DCI Grant said: "This is an entirely separate investigation but there are another five potential victims who need assistance and protection. Our enquiries are at an early stage in relation to this development but it is important to stress to everyone in our community that police will act, with partners, to protect potential victims and apprehend those individuals or groups who would seek to take advantage of their circumstances for whatever reason. I would encourage anyone with information about human trafficking or who is a victim of trafficking to contact police."
(CD/JP)
Officers searched premises in Newtownhamilton last Friday and have spent a number of days working with colleagues in partner agencies to identify the individuals who may have been trafficked.
The operation is focused on eastern Europeans working in the agricultural sector. Detectives from the PSNI Human Trafficking Unit are working with colleagues in HM Revenue and Customs, the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, the Health and Safety Executive and local police.
The potential victims, men and women aged between 18 and 45, are being cared for by Migrant Help and Women's Aid as part of the Department of Justice's human trafficking support network. They will be assessed for referral to the UK Human Trafficking Centre which is run by the National Crime Agency.
In a separate investigation in greater Belfast, another five potential victims of trafficking have been identified and are being looked after by police and partner agencies.
DCI Grant said: "This is an entirely separate investigation but there are another five potential victims who need assistance and protection. Our enquiries are at an early stage in relation to this development but it is important to stress to everyone in our community that police will act, with partners, to protect potential victims and apprehend those individuals or groups who would seek to take advantage of their circumstances for whatever reason. I would encourage anyone with information about human trafficking or who is a victim of trafficking to contact police."
(CD/JP)
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