Human Trafficking Awareness Day 2025

Human trafficking is the act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harbouring, or receiving individuals through force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of exploitation.

What this really means is that vulnerable people are groomed and forced into sexual exploitation; accepting risky job offers and being trapped into forced labour; or finding work in private homes only to exploited with no way out.

There are many things that can lead to a person being trafficked. They might be coerced by someone; they may have been trying to escape abuse or poverty; or they could simply have been trying to improve their family’s life.

Here in Dyfed-Powys, officers have come across cannabis ‘gardeners’ who are suspected to have been trafficked from other countries to grow the drug in large scale factories. In these cases, referrals are submitted to identify if they are victims of trafficking, and to ensure they receive the appropriate support to help them.

So what can we do?

If you’re concerned someone might be a victim of trafficking, try to talk to them and consider if their background sounds reasonable, or if they appear nervous talking to you. We’re not talking about interrogating someone who may be already be vulnerable – it’s about demonstrating a level of interest and care that may help a victim to seek help or support.

To learn more about Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, visit the National Crime Agency website: https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/what-we-do/crime-threats/modern-slavery-and-human-trafficking