A NEW team of detectives has been set up to combat human trafficking in West Yorkshire in a bid to tackle slavery gangs.

The Human Trafficking Unit is now becoming operational and will target organised crime lords seeking to traffic people into West Yorkshire.

It has been formed as part of a range of initiatives in West Yorkshire to combat trafficking, and will be led by a detective inspector and staffed by specialist detectives and investigators who have all received training in investigating human trafficking.

The unit is believed to be only the third of its kind in the country and has been set up as part of West Yorkshire's Serious and Organised Crime Unit to investigate the most complex criminal cases.

It will be complemented by the West Yorkshire Anti Trafficking Network, with charity Hope For Justice training almost 3,500 police staff, about how to spot the signs of trafficking, funded by the Home Office.

The initiatives follow a conference, hosted by West Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Burns-Williamson, to spread awareness of human trafficking.

Detective Chief Inspector Warren Stevenson, of West Yorkshire Police, said the formation of a trafficking prevention unit showed how seriously authorities took the issue.

He said: “Human trafficking is a vile crime, and the resources we are dedicating to this new unit makes clear how determined we are to tackle it and bring those responsible to justice.

“Last year the number of human trafficking victims referred by West Yorkshire Police doubled from 2013 from 42 to 84, showing the scale of the problem, but also demonstrating that victims are more willing to come to us.

“We have been working closely with Hope For Justice to support these victims and secure evidence against those abusing them."

He added: “This new team will give us extra capability to investigate the larger organised crime gangs bringing trafficking victims into our region, and to managing human slavery investigations locally.

Mr Burns-Williamson said: “West Yorkshire Police is leading the way in helping victims of human trafficking.

“Those helped by the unit will then be supported to put their lives back together and it means victims are subsequently more confident in coming forward to the police.

“There is more we need to do, and this unit is part of that, targeting those perpetrators ruining people’s lives with this awful crime.

“They need to know they have no place to hide, and victims need to know that in West Yorkshire the resources and support are in place to protect them.”

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