Failure by police officers to properly support victims of modern slavery is undermining efforts to prosecute perpetrators, a recent investigation has found. A report by three policing bodies in response to a complaint by survivors charity Hestia revealed that an inconsistent approach to victims undermines their trust and often jeopardises investigations.
In its “super complaint” Hestia accused police forces in England and Wales of failing to train non-specialist officers to recognise modern slavery, and also in their duty to report it to the Home Office
Hestia alleged victims are often treated as either immigration offenders, or as criminals when they are forced to commit crimes by their exploiters, and that forces failed to adequately investigate cases.
Read the full article from the Evening Standard below:
Source: Lack of victim support undermining efforts to stamp out slavery – report
