Serious and organised crime week of action

Serious and organised crime is taking centre stage this week as part of our 12-week surge activity focused on our Matters of Priority.

This is the final week of Northamptonshire Police’s focus on the four priorities set out by Chief Constable Nick Adderley - violence against women and girls, drugs harm, serious and organised crime, and serious violence

Thousands of lives are damaged every year by serious and organised crime, which includes fraud, modern slavery, county lines drugs gangs and cybercrime.

Often criminals will exploit vulnerable people, whether that’s to commit offences on their behalf, work illegally or to take over their homes from which they can operate.

Detective Chief Inspector Nick Cobley is leading this week’s action, he said: “This is our third week focussing on serious and organised crime (SOC) since the start of the summer and we will continue to highlight the different strands of SOC and what the public can do to support that work.

“One aspect of SOC we will be focusing on during the week is human trafficking – something that criminal gangs are involved with in all parts of the UK.

“People are trafficked into the UK and forced to work for minimal wages all while fearful of what could happen to them if they try to get help.

“The criminal gangs running these operations do so to make money and have no regard for the welfare of their victims.

“We work tirelessly to tackle those people involved in this type of crime and safeguard victims and are urging people to tell us about any concerns they may have about modern slavery.”

 

Signs someone may be a victim of modern slavery:

• Not in possession of passport or other paperwork
• Depend on their employer for work, transport, and accommodation, without any choice
• Be unable to communicate freely with others
• Have no access to medical care
• Unable to choose when and where they work
• Have wages paid into an account used by others

 

To report concerns about serious and organised crime:

• Call 101 for non-emergencies
• Call 999 if life is at risk or a crime is taking place
• Visit northants.police.uk
• Call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111