The Swedish National Police Academy (Stockholm, Sweden) organised from 2 to 4 June 2015 the CEPOL course 3/2015 on Trafficking in Human Beings and Labour Exploitation. The overall aim of the course was to improve the way law enforcement agencies address this issue.
Participants from 19 EU Member States and Norway attended this course, including labour inspectors and police officers. Lectures were delivered by experts from the United Kingdom, Belgium, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the EU agencies FRA and EUROPOL.
Presenters gave an overview on the international legislation applicable to trafficking in human beings and on current trends and challenges in this field. Key speakers presented case studies on topics such as the key factors to secure evidence of conviction and the remit and powers of labour inspectors. Experts also stressed the importance of a collaborative approach – including police, labour inspectors, social services and NGO’s – to supporting victims.
Through CEPOL’s Learning Management System, course participants and experts will have access to a platform that will allow them to stay in touch, share experiences and access material related to trafficking in human beings and labour exploitation.
Comments received after the course were very positive:
“The network I have built here will be very useful. If I need information from a country that was represented on the course, I know that I will have someone I can contact” - Ms. Joana Amorim, Portugal.
“This course has changed the way I think. I used to consider THB as a national problem, but I now see that it is pan-European. It has been very interesting to share experiences and to find out how other countries approach criminality and victim care” - Mr. David Cestaro, UK.
“Participants’ multidisciplinary background contributed to constructive discussions covering both perspectives of labour inspection and law enforcement. I am pleased with the high degree of engagement in discussions during the course” - Irena Höglund, course manager.
