Modern Slavery Statement

Joint Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement

1. Introduction

Staffordshire Commissioner’s Office for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime, Staffordshire Police (SP) and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) have a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of Modern Slavery. We are committed to eliminating discrimination and exploitation in all business dealings or our supply chain, acting with transparency, putting effective systems and controls in place to safeguard against all forms of Modern Slavery.

Staffordshire Commissioner’s Office (SCO), SFRS and SP consider the obligations placed on commercial organisations under section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 are vital in combating Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.

This statement sets out our current practices to tackle and prevent Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking (MSHT) within SCO, SFRS, SP commissioned services, investments, or its supply chain, including the duty to identify and report such instances to the relevant bodies.

Modern Slavery is an umbrella term to refer to the illegal exploitation of people for personal or commercial gain. It covers a wide range of abuse and exploitation including, slavery, human trafficking, servitude, and forced or compulsory labour. Victims of Modern Slavery can be of any age, gender, nationality, and ethnicity. They are tricked or threatened into work and may feel unable to leave or report the crime through fear or intimidation. They also may not recognise themselves as a victim. Victims may also be subject to more than one type of exploitation at the same time.

It is estimated nearly 50 million people were trapped in Modern Slavery worldwide in 2021. Of those 28 million were in forced labour and 22 million were in forced marriages (2 out of 5 were children).
(Source: Global Estimates of Modern Slavery: Forced Labour and Forced Marriage, Geneva, September 2022).

At the end of 2024 the number of people referred to Authorities was 19,125 potential victims. Of those 31% were children and 23% of people referred were British nationals.
(Source: the Home Office).

2. About the Organisations

The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) acts as the voice of the people in Staffordshire, holding the Chief Constable and Chief Fire Officer and their services to account, ensuring the delivery of an effective and efficient fire and rescue and police service. Commissioners meet the needs of their community, strengthen relationships, work in partnership and build trust between the community and both services.

SP provides policing services across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. SP’s purpose is keeping our communities safe and reassured through preventing crime, protecting the public, and bringing offenders to justice. The policing area covers more than 1,000 square miles and currently has around 3,500 employees, comprising around 2,000 police officers together with community support officers, police staff and volunteers who serve a population of just over 1.1 million. The force has the largest total road length of any authority area of the West Midlands; one of the largest in the country. It has 12 Local Policing Teams (LPTs) including response and neighbourhood police officers, police community support officers (PCSOs), special constables and harm reduction hubs who work closely with partners and local communities. The force also has two criminal investigation departments, a public protection unit and specialist crime command, and a force contact and control centre.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service has 33 Community Fire Stations across the county; made up of three main areas: Northern Service Delivery Group which covers Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle-under-Lyme; Eastern Service Delivery Group covering Tamworth, Lichfield and East Staffordshire; and the Western Service Delivery Group covering Stafford, South Staffordshire and Cannock. SFRS also deliver a broad range of community safety initiatives, older persons and youth engagement and road safety education alongside business support, fire protection and enforcement activities.

SCO, SFRS and SP work in the United Kingdom, where the risk of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking is considered low, however, all employees remain vigilant and will take steps available to manage any risks presented.

This statement covers the business activities of SCO, SFRS and SP, including all direct employees, agency workers, volunteers, supply chains, and services commissioned.

3. Policies and Procedures

SCO has several internal policies and procedures shared with SP and SFRS to ensure an ethical and transparent nature when conducting business. All three organisations have governance oversight of their policies and procedures. These are reviewed regularly and updated when necessary. The main corporate policies and procedures, which incorporate the identification and approach to Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, are:

  • Recruitment
  • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
  • Whistleblowing Policy
  • Employees Code of Conduct
  • Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy
  • Safeguarding Policies

4. Employee Training

All force employees undergo mandatory College Learn training.

Force Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Champions undergo a three-day training course.

Staffordshire Police deliver Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking training and information to fire & rescue employees which helps raise awareness, reinforce partnership links, assist in the identification, reporting and management of MSHT multi-agency operations.

SCO and SP employees can access a Vulnerability Toolkit from police mobile devices etc. so that they can refer to the guidance on the go. This toolkit offers up-to-date, easy to navigate, information about several vulnerability areas including Modern Slavery. The Modern Slavery toolkit includes; useful tools and documents, both internal and external plans, policies and protocols, signposting and resources, videos, SPOC list and relevant news.

The Government has also produced a modern slavery collection available to public sector organisations, which brings together documents, training resources and promotional material related to the Government’s work to end Modern Slavery.

5. Delivery

SCO, SFRS and SP are able to monitor and manage the supply chains of direct suppliers of services.

As part of the procurement processes, SCO, SFRS and SP will:

  • Ensure pre-contract questionnaires given to potential contractors include questions to help ensure that those organisations are fulfilling their statutory responsibilities to identify, prevent and mitigate the risk of modern slavery in their operations.
  • Have a risk assessment in place for the supply chains to ensure the areas with a deemed risk of modern slavery are appropriately monitored.
  • Have anti-slavery clauses in the standard contract terms and conditions and tender documents, to ensure that the SCO, SFRS and SP are entering into contracts with suppliers who are committed to complying with requirements under the Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking laws, including the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
  • Make sure all suppliers of goods and services have their own policy relating to working practices or modern slavery, or for evidence to be available to ensure their standards are in accordance with the SCO, SFRS and SP’s expectations.

Working in partnership is essential to prevent instances of Modern Slavery, and to identify, protect and support its victims. SCO, SFRS and SP will work together consistently and cohesively to understand the nature of the threat. To do this effectively we must:

  • Listen and learn from our communities to identify gaps in delivery, areas of vulnerability, and emerging threats.
  • Ensure our communities are aware of the signs of modern slavery and human trafficking, and that pathways to report concerns are available and promoted.
  • Build on existing district and national meetings such as the modern slavery and human trafficking (MSHT) tactical group by building on developing stronger relationships, gather and share information to help identify vulnerabilities, emerging threats and to safeguard those at risk sooner.
  • We will continue to influence national strategies and policies through engagement with various organisations.

A task and finish group spearheaded by the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and the Force Director of People and Resources meet as and when required and includes representatives from the SCO, SFRS and SP covering areas such as procurement, MSHT, safeguarding and human resources.

This statement demonstrates our commitment to ensure that both now and in the future that there is no Modern Slavery or Human Trafficking in our business dealings or supply chains.

The Statement shall be continually reviewed and updated.

Alongside this Statement also sits a Procurement and Supply Chain Assurance Statement.