98pc of slavery cases shut without charges
Ninety seven per cent of cases of modern slavery investigated by West Midlands Police were closed without a suspect being charged, new figures have shown, revealing the difficulty combating the issue.
Out of 41 recorded offences, just one person was charged for arranging travel of another person for exploitation in 2015 and 2016.
The figures, from September 2015 to February this year, also show for 81 recorded crimes, the outcomes are 'not available' due to ongoing inquiries.
The statistics, obtained by this newspaper, show the challenge faced by the force in tackling modern day slavery.
Out of the 122 recorded offences for exploitation, in 26 no suspect was identified.
In eight, officers faced difficulties getting evidence and in six the victim dropped their complaint.
Only one report, in June in 2015, was there a charge served on a suspect.
Just this week, West Midlands Police repeated its plea for people not to ignore slavery following a raid on a food processing plant in Tyseley, Birmingham.
Superintendent Nick Walton, force lead for modern slavery, said: “Modern slavery is still largely a hidden crime…we’re striving to raise the public’s awareness of the signs and urge them to report anything suspicious so we can take action."
He said in the past 12 months, police had carried out a series of raids at premises across the region and arrested more than 40 people on suspicion of slavery offences.
But for sex slavery, last year just five arrests were made in Oldbury and Wolverhampton for keeping a brothel. And in 2015, one arrest was made in Brierley Hill for causing prostitution for gain, another in Smethwick and three in Wolverhampton.
Earlier this year, the Express & Star revealed the extent of sex trafficking in the West Midlands.
Reporters went under cover to speak to escorts based in homes in Wolverhampton and Walsall, revealing how groups of eastern European women were being held in homes, providing sex to men for cash.
In the same period, 2015 and 2016, 28 sex workers, including brothel workers, were cautioned or charged by the force. But it is not clear if all those facing action were victims of human trafficking.
Supt Walton said getting convictions for cases of modern slavery remains a challenge for the force.
The sensitivity of victims – who are often from abroad – can cause difficulties for police, with some victims choosing to return to their home countries rather than follow a case through the courts to conviction.
He said: "As a police officer it's always disappointing when you can't take a crime through the criminal justice system.
"But if I look at where we were 18 months ago to where we are now we're in a much better place and will be even better in 18 months time.
"The whole profile nationally has changed."
Officers are now working proactively to tackle crime and also gaining a better understanding of where across the region crimes could be taking place, Supt Walton said.
He said: "One of the challenges is people coming from different countries and with cultural differences and they may be distrusting of authority.
"We also know the criminal elements involved will use a variety of different methods to put [victims] under duress.
"When victims come forward we try to work with them to bring offenders to justice.
"But there are issues around things such as immigration status, the provision for victims and also some victims can choose to return home rather than support prosecutions.
"When you bring all that together it can be very difficult."
However, Supt Walton said the force has put new processes in place including closer working with partner agencies which he believes will improve the number of prosecutions in the next 18 months,
This includes a better database and increased support for victims, as well as raising awareness of modern slavery.
