FORMER chief crown prosecutor Nazir Afzal, who led the case against the Rochdale sex trafficking gang, has addressed a Poole conference highlighting modern slavery.
Mr Afzal was headline speaker at the event, organised by the Safer Poole Partnership at Poole Lighthouse Theatre on Thursday. (OCT 5)
Around 1,000 delegates also heard speeches from Kevin Hyland, the UK's first Anti-Slavery Commissioner; Devon & Cornwall Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer; Dorset Police & Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill, and Paul Broadbent, chief executive of the Gangmasters & Labour Abuse Authority.
Mr Afzal said: "In life we have two choices, do nothing or do something. Modern slavery and the exploitation of our fellow humans is the crime of our times.
"Under our noses, in plain sight, victims often suffer the indignities of being treated as a 'thing' and abused with no hope of release.
"At this conference we raise awareness, we educate and we fight back."
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