A man from Clitheroe has been chosen for a national campaign to highlight the work he is doing to tackle modern slavery.
Journeys is a new, multi-media resource from The Clewer Initiative (the Church of England’s response to modern slavery) which seeks to people to take action against modern slavery.
Sion Hall is a recently retired detective chief inspector from Lancashire Constabulary and chair of the Pan Lancashire Anti-Slavery Partnership (PLASP) living in Clitheroe.
He appears throughout the five films, sharing his story of setting up PLASP and his experience of working alongside modern slavery victims during his 35-year career.
Speaking on the reality of modern slavery in the UK today, Sion said: “Lots of it is driven by organised crime so there are significant amounts of money.
"I’ve been into some brothels where there’s literally bin bags stuffed full of cash.
“Anybody and everybody, we all have a part to play in it and if nobody does anything then this will flourish and flourish and flourish. I think it’s absolutely incumbent on us all that we do something.
“It’s never going to be plain sailing, you’re never going to continue from beginning to end without any hiccups or disappointments and sometimes quite horrible frustrations but the thing that always keeps me going and what I share with the team is, if we can change or save one person’s life this year then that has been worth while doing.”
Sion shares how he was asked by the Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office to use his retirement to establish an Anti-Slavery Partnership.
Having worked for 30 years for the police and set up the Human Trafficking Team for the county, Sion felt it was a perfect way to put his skills and experience to good use and work on something he was passionate about.
As a committed Christian, he felt strongly about the importance of the church being closely involved with the Partnership. PLASP meets monthly and focuses on raising awareness amongst frontline agencies, churches and community groups and the wider public, providing training and encouraging victim identification and support.
Sion is one of eight frontline experts from across the UK who share their stories in the films.
They also discuss how strengthening community resilience, forging partnerships, robust safeguarding, raising awareness and therapeutic art can help in the fight against slavery.
The new resource, Journeys, consists of five mini-films featuring victim stories and interviews with frontline volunteers and experts telling the journeys of victims drawn into labour exploitation, county lines, financial exploitation, domestic servitude and sexual exploitation
Bishop Alastair Redfern, chair of The Clewer Initiative, said: “The films and supporting resources are practical and realistic, exploring many of the complexities we face as we try to support victims and prevent criminal gangs getting a foothold.
“Our hope is that by hearing from frontline volunteers such as Sion, more of us will be spurred to take action.”
You can watch the short films here.
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