Hidden victims of modern slavery and human trafficking will be given more support thanks to additional funding.
Norfolk’s police and crime commissioner Giles Orpen-Smellie is set to provide £125,000 to an independent organisation or group that will deliver help to vulnerable adults at risk of being exploited over the next three years.
They will work alongside the Salvation Army, which is the nationally appointed specialist support agency for all adult victims of modern slavery.
Mr Orpen-Smellie said: “Hidden crimes such as modern slavery and human trafficking are, unfortunately, an insidious violation of people’s rights and difficult to detect once their freedoms have been denied.”
The most commonly reported forms of human trafficking and modern slavery involve sexual exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude and forced criminality with victims often having identity documents confiscated and earnings withheld as 'payment' for living costs, or for their journey to the UK.
The group awarded the funding will offer independent support that “will go a long way to safeguard victims and improve their confidence to report crimes”.
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