West Yorkshire Anti-slavery Partnership
The West Yorkshire Anti-Slavery Partnership unites police, local government, charities, and communities to protect victims and stop exploitation across our region.
The West Yorkshire Anti-Slavery Partnership unites police, local government, charities, and communities to protect victims and stop exploitation across our region.
The West Yorkshire Anti-Slavery Partnership (WYASP) is a framework for organisations in West Yorkshire who may encounter incidents or matters involving modern slavery or human trafficking and exploitation. Modern slavery is when people are controlled, forced to work, or treated badly without freedom.
Since 2014, WYASP has brought together the police, local councils, charities, and public services so they can work as one team. Together, they help protect victims and improve victim services.
All five areas of West Yorkshire are involved: Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Kirklees, and Calderdale. Each of these areas also has its own local group working on the same issues.
The partnership is run by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and it is led by Alison Lowe, the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime.
Modern slavery is a hidden and harmful crime. It exists in the UK and worldwide. This term covers slavery, servitude, forced labour, and human trafficking. It involves exploiting people for profit. Modern slavery is a serious violation of human rights. Men, women, and children are often targeted, facing deception, violence, threats, and coercion.
In West Yorkshire, modern slavery severely impacts victims. Those involved often connect to other serious crimes. To tackle this issue, we must identify and help victims and bring offenders to justice. It’s important to recognise the signs of modern slavery and know how to report it. You can learn to spot these signs on the Modern Slavery Helpline website.
For more information or to report suspicions, visit the Modern Slavery Helpline or call 08000 121 700. You can also contact the police at 101, and in emergencies, always call 999.
The partnership focuses on three key areas to tackle modern slavery in West Yorkshire:
Training
Raising awareness
Sharing information
In West Yorkshire, we have a dedicated Modern Slavery Training and Partnerships Officer. If you would like to arrange training for your organisation, you can contact West Yorkshire Police by emailing humantrafficking@westyorkshire.pnn.police.uk to discuss your requirements.
It is important to run regular awareness campaigns and share clear information. These help organisations and local communities spot the signs of modern slavery and know how to report concerns.
If you would like more details or access to campaign materials, you can contact West Yorkshire Police by emailing humantrafficking@westyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.
The internet-based Partnership Intelligence Portal (PIP) is widely used by partners. It helps gather information on organised crime, including modern slavery. This allows key partners to submit intelligence to a central police triage team. Once submitted, it automatically emails the Intelligence Management Unit (IMU) at West Yorkshire Police. This unit operates 24/7 and triages intelligence for the force. National legislation and guidance:
This Pocketbook is for frontline professionals and community groups in Leeds. It helps those who may meet potential victims of modern slavery or people at risk of exploitation. Developed by Safer Leeds, this resource is suitable for various sectors, including: police, healthcare, housing, benefits, social care, immigration solicitors, charities, and community groups across West Yorkshire.
West Yorkshire Police want to raise awareness of modern slavery, which is often seen as a ‘hidden crime’. Their response comes from the Force Precision Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking Team. This team includes detectives, police staff, and a partnerships and training officer. They investigate modern slavery at local, regional, national, and international levels.
They work with district policing teams, other law enforcement agencies, and partners in the West Yorkshire Anti-Slavery Network.
Recently, they launched a new initiative against County Lines as part of Programme Precision. This expands the proactive efforts of the Force Precision Human Trafficking & Modern Slavery Team. It now includes the REDIVE County Lines Intensification & Co-ordination Hub within Protective Services Crime. This hub combines specialists with different skills and knowledge, linking serious organised crime, safeguarding, training, and partnerships. The REDIVE Hub targets modern slavery and its connection to the County Lines drug markets.
This strengthens West Yorkshire Police’s response by identifying Organised Exploitation of Vulnerable People (OEVP). They use various tactics to combat this crime and protect society's most vulnerable. The REDIVE Hub is creating a ‘Toolkit’ with all five districts. This builds commitment and connectivity between district Safeguarding and Precision Organised Crime Teams, promoting innovative work streams and sharing best practices.
The initiative is progressing, improving the understanding of OEVP and County Lines within the organisation, partners, and local communities. It supports investigations of County Lines and modern slavery across the region. The Hub has unique access to various tactics to disrupt organised crime groups targeting vulnerable individuals. They have made progress by developing a clearer understanding of the situation, promoting an action-led response to child criminal exploitation, and addressing ‘cuckooing’. This focused approach, combining force resources with partner agencies, has led to successful operations and arrests, helping to keep people safe.
Email humantrafficking@westyorkshire.pnn.police.uk or Redive@westyorkshire.pnn.police.uk
The partnership has a long and well established working relationship with many national organisations and agencies who support our response to modern slavery across West Yorkshire.
You can find out more about these partners below
