Diocese works with anti-slavery tsar to combat trafficking

Church leaders from East Anglia have met with senior police officers and the UK’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner to discuss solutions to tackling human trafficking in the diocese, writes Rose Gamble.

The meeting, held in Peterborough on 29 November, was organised in collaboration with the Santa Marta Group, an international alliance of police chiefs and bishops from around the world working together with civil society to eradicate modern day slavery.
The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Kevin Hyland, said that both Pope Francis and the Prime Minister, Theresa May, had made anti-trafficking a priority.

“The partnership between the Church and the Police is an unusual one but it is the perfect match because the Police are there to deal with vulnerable communities and to protect them and to bring people to justice. The Church is there for the same thing, to look after vulnerable communities, to promote equality and to promote justice across the world,” he added.

Bishop Patrick Lynch, Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark and the lead bishop on modern slavery, said that a strong partnership between churches and law enforcement could help eradicate “this horrific crime”. The meeting also heard from chaplains for the Slovak, Romanian, Lithuanian, Polish, African and Portuguese communities.

“The partnership between the Catholic Church and the police is a very powerful relationship and I have come to understand that more fully today,” said the Bishop of East Anglia, Alan Hopes, after the meeting. “The Church can  make a real difference when working with the statutory authorities.”