Modern slavery

Modern slavery is a serious and often hidden crime. It comprises slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour and human trafficking, which is the harbouring and transportation of individuals for exploitation.

A victim is usually used and exploited for someone else’s gain, without respect for their human rights and involving some element of coercion, such as threats, use of force, deception, or abuse of power so that the victim performs acts or services against their will. Victims can be any nationality, gender and age but children, young people and vulnerable adults are often targeted.

Forms of slavery include Sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, forced labour , criminal exploitation. Other forms of exploitation include organ removal, forced begging, forced benefit fraud, forced marriage and illegal adoption.

For more information and short videos around the various forms of modern slavery click here Learn – FreedomUnited.org

Also see NSPCC Learning


> Protecting children from trafficking and modern slavery

How to report a crime

Police

Call 999 in an emergency situation and 101 if sharing information about a modern slavery issue.

Charities

Modern slavery and exploitation helpline – 0800 0121 700.


Salvation Army referral helpline – 0800 808 3733.

Home – Victim Support – 0808 168 9111

Helping under 18s

For advice for under 18s, call the NSPCC Child Trafficking Advice Centre 080 880 050 00 or Barnardo’s National Counter-Trafficking Service 0800 043 4303 for hands-on support.

Mental Health Support

Catch it – mobile app for anxiety and depression…

‘Catch It’ is a free NHS app which uses cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help  improve and manage feelings like anxiety, depression, anger, or confusion.

The app could be a first step before speaking with a doctor or professional, when the individual  feels like they are struggling and want to try and help themself and may not be ready to share this with anyone else.

The app will teach them how to look at problems in a different way, turn negative thoughts into positive ones and improve your mental wellbeing.

The app uses a ‘Catch It’, ‘Check It’ and ‘Change It’ process. 

  • Catch It asks users to record and rate their moods in the app’s diary.
  • Check It asks users to reflect on what they are thinking by answering questions to help users analyse and reflect on the situation that provoked the mood or worries.
  • Change It asks users to find a better way to deal with a problem and try and work towards a possible solution.
  • ​​​Aims to improve mental wellbeing by using CBT techniques and regularly logging and reflecting on mood and thoughts.

Users are then provided with a narrative description of what happened when the mood occurred, and what ‘automatic thoughts’ they had at the time. Users are encouraged to re-frame the situation in a different way by taking a moment to reflect on their mood entry.

They are also asked if the strength of the mood has changed by again rating their mood on a scale of 1-5 and possible triggers on how it affected the change of mood.

Please note that the ‘Catch It’ app is not a substitute for professional mental health care or intended for individuals in an emergency. If they are in an emergency situation, please immediately access emergency services. 

For other mental health resources, please find a local NHS mental health helpline, or get support from mental health charities.

Help & how to get started!

  • ​Search for the ‘Catch It’ app on the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android)
  • For more information, visit the Catch It NHS webpage

Prevent and Radicalisation

The current national terrorist threat level is ‘substantial’, which is defined as ‘an attack is likely’. This level has been unchanged since February 2022 and is set by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre and the Security Service (MI5).

For more information: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/14f14792/-Th5BW_5KE2g2LI_bMOxMA?u=https://www.gov.uk/terrorism-national-emergency

Right Wing Terrorist Found Guilty of Planning an Attack

A 19 year old man from Washington, Tyne & Wear, was convicted in May of preparing to carry out an act of terrorism. He will be sentenced for the crime in June.

Following a two-week trial at Teesside Crown Court, the jury found Luke Skelton guilty of one offence under Section 5 (1) of the Terrorism Act 2006; engaging in conduct in preparation of a terrorist act.

Skelton was charged in November 2021 following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing North East, supported by Northumbria Police.

The evidence showed that the defendant openly supported and adopted an extreme right wing ideology. He not only wrote about his plans to commit a terrorist act but went as far as carrying out hostile reconnaissance by researching and visiting potential targets.

The Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East commented: “The defendant’s anger towards society, together with his extreme right-wing views, created a dangerous foundation from which his sinister plans were ultimately built. He was strongly motivated by this mindset, which continued to fuel his actions and his later offending, despite repeated attempts to draw him away from it. The evidence clearly demonstrated that he was not just a person who held strong views but a terrorist who wanted to cause serious harm.”

For more information, please visit: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/f0998d25/aPnaXQnfLE_o25hffgcQhw?u=https://www.counterterrorism.police.uk/right-wing-terrorist-found-guilty-of-planning-an-attack/

Local Risks . Top reported crimes for our regions

To help you identify local risks we will be including in each bulletin the top reported crimes for some of our regions. 

By using the link you can drill down further into postcode areas.

The following were the most commonly reported crimes during the month of March 2023:

Blackburn  Newcastle upon Tyne  Leeds  
Violence’s and sexual offences                                      43
Anti-social behaviour         49 Public order                            41 Shoplifting                              12  		Violence & sexual offences       304
Antisocial behaviour   221 Public order  81
Other theft               89    		Violence and sexual offences                388 Public order        149 Shoplifting 186
Other theft          137

Statistics taken from https://link.edgepilot.com/s/5f83c957/k3XTL1EsmUOyCVsiA0JIeQ?u=https://www.police.uk/

Awareness Campaigns for June

Mens Mental Health June 12th – 18th – Men’s Health and the Internet

The CAN DO Challenge is a great way to boost mental wellbeing by doing all the five ways to wellbeing.

The five ways are:

  • Connect – connect with other people (e.g., call an old friend or family member) 
  • (Be) Active – move your body (e.g., go for a run/walk/swim/dance/etc)
  • Notice – take notice of the environment around you (e.g., turn off your phone for an hour and look around) 
  • Discover – learn something new (e.g., read a book you haven’t read before)
  • Offer (or give) – do something for someone else (e.g., volunteer for a local community group) 

The CAN-DO Challenge | Men’s Health Forum (menshealthforum.org.uk)

LGBT+ Pride Month 1st – 30th June

LGBT Pride Month is a month, typically June, dedicated to celebration and commemoration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender pride, observed in the Western world. Pride Month began after the Stonewall riots, a series of gay liberation protests in 1969, and has since spread outside of the United States.

Pride Month 2023: Origins, Parades & Dates | HISTORY