PCC Pledges Commitment to Tackling Modern Slavery

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Gwent, Jeff Cuthbert, joined police leaders from across Wales in Cardiff recently to officially pledge their commitment to do everything in their power to prevent people from being exploited as modern-day slaves.

During an event hosted at the Welsh Assembly last week, Mr Cuthbert joined some of the Welsh Chief Constables, Police and Crime Commissioners and the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children, Carl Sargeant AM, to sign their commitment to the Welsh Government’s Code of Practice on Ethical Employment in Supply Chains.

The Welsh Government’s Code of Practice on Ethical Employment in Supply Chains commits public, private and third sector organisations to a set of actions that tackle illegal and unfair employment practices. The code highlights what employers in the private and public sector can do to ensure that the goods, works and services they purchase from suppliers at every stage is done so ethically to protect vulnerable people from being exploited as modern-day slaves. The guide contains tools and advice to help put the commitments into practice.

Gwent PCC Jeff Cuthbert is the lead on behalf of all the Welsh Police and Crime Commissioners on tackling modern-day slavery. Earlier this year, he hosted a seminar in Newport, which was attended by over 140 employers and suppliers, to look at how they can work even closer with the police and key partners such as the Welsh Government to prevent people from being exploited.

Highlighting his commitment to the key principles of the Code of Practice, Gwent PCC Jeff Cuthbert said: “I am delighted to officially declare my commitment to this very important guide which helps employers to be more vigilant and willing to take action. Only by working in partnership can we prevent exploitation in Wales’s private and public sectors. Gwent Police is one of the Forces leading the way on anti-slavery issues in England and Wales. Each and every employer has a responsibility to ensure that the goods, services and works they purchase in each stage of their supply chain are sourced ethically and that people are not exploited as part of the process. Employers also play a critical role in enabling decent working conditions for their staff but they also have a vital role to play in eradicating this barbaric crime.”

Mr Cuthbert added: “No single organisation can effectively tackle and eradicate this problem alone. Only through effective collaboration with partners across all sectors can we come up with solutions to stamp out modern-day slavery.”

For further information on the Welsh Government’s Code of Practice for Ethical Employment in Supply Chains, please visit www.gov.wales/code-of-practice