Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner has unveiled a new region-wide strategy to tackle the effects of Modern Slavery.
This important launch event, hosted by the International Museum of Slavery in Liverpool, brought together charities, agencies and other community organizations to discuss the new action plan which will run from 2024 – 2028.
County Lines Exploitation was a big focus of the event, with organizations heading from an anonymous 21-year-old survivor from Merseyside who spoke about his grooming and exploitation at the hands of a Merseyside drugs gang. He spoke about how gaining an understanding of his victimisation helped him change his life for the better.
Medaille's Director of Police and Justice Partnerships, Marcus Dawson was also presenting at the launch. Marcus lead a presentation on the Medaille Trust and the work we do to support victims of Modern Slavery, and parts of his presentation featured on BBC North West Tonight.
The new plan is the result of a major consultation that began in October last year. The PCC brought together more than 60 specialists, including the Medaille Trust, to draw on their advice in tackling Modern Slavery and improving the responses of police and other agencies.
Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “As Police Commissioner, my priority is to Support Victims and Build Safer Communities for everyone.
“Modern Slavery devastates lives and communities, and we must work together to end exploitation and protect innocent victims from a lifetime of fear and intimidation.
“This abhorrent crime cannot be tackled by any one agency or organisation; we must respond collectively with meaningful action if we are to make positive change across Merseyside.
“That’s why it was great to have so much collective input from our partners during the consultation and it’s clear there a genuine commitment from all the agencies in the Network to stopping those who seek to exploit and manipulate the vulnerable for their own gain.
“I would like to thank all those who provided their feedback and expertise, which has helped develop this important document. By working together, we can be a force for change, making our region safer for all men, women and children.”
For more information and a full press release, see the Merseyside PCC’s website.
