Number of those being rescued from human trafficking incidents on rise

59 victims referred last year

human trafficking
Author: Nigel GouldPublished 19th Sep 2019

The number of victims being rescued from human traffickers in Northern Ireland is rising.

Police have revealed that in the last year, 59 modern slavery victims were “referred through a national referring mechanism”

Detective Superintendent Richard Campbell says victims are trapped in exploitation once they get here.

He says they are seeing an increase in African victims, who are often sold a vision of a better life.

“That has been a false promise,” he told Downtown and Cool FM.

“Their travel documents – their ID documents will be held by the traffickers.

“Access to their bank accounts will also be controlled by the traffickers.

“So while the individuals will be doing the work they will not be seeing the benefit of that work.

“The organised criminals will be taking the benefit of that work.”

Yesterday, the PSNI revealed there had also been a rise in the number of illegal drugs seizures.

Included during the year was a consignment of anabolic steroids.