POLICE marked National Anti-Slavery Day by cracking down on trafficking.
More officers than usual patrolled Gatwick Airport on Saturday 18/10 meeting nine flights from Vietnam, Sweden, Latvia, Turkey, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Norway.
While Sussex Police and UK Border Force routinely monitor flights – this time the operation allowed officers to gather intelligence and raise awareness about the problem.
No victims were identified on Saturday but anybody who was spoken to, and thought to be at risk, had their details recorded.
Detective inspector Jacqui Jenkins, from Sussex Police's public protection team, said: "People often come to this country believing they are heading for a better life. They may pay huge amounts of money to the trafficker to get here and once in Britain they find themselves under the control of traffickers who physically and mentally abuse them whilst often keeping them in appalling living conditions.
"We are working hard to uncover any trace of modern slavery in the county."
If you are a victim, or you may know someone who is, call police on 101.
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