A MOBILE exhibition raising awareness of exploitation, trafficking, and modern slavery will be in St Helens this weekend as part of a regional tour.

The double-decker ‘Freedom Bus’ will hit the road tomorrow (Saturday, September 7), and will be open for the public to step aboard in Church Square, Church Street, St Helens town centre from 10am -10.45am.

The vehicle last toured Merseyside in 2021.

Borrowed by the Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, from the Pan-Lancashire Anti-Slavery Partnership, the campaign aims to raise awareness in Merseyside by encouraging people to learn how to spot the warning signs of Modern Slavery and how to report any concerns they have.

The bus is a mobile exhibition, branded with anti-slavery messages promoting the national Modern Slavery Helpline, to which people should report any concerns they have about individuals who they think could be enslaved or exploited.

The Freedom Bus will begin its six-hour journey in St Helens before travelling across the Merseyside region, making short stops in each area to engage with people in every borough before making its final stop in Wirral.

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Jeanie Bell will be joined by representatives from the Modern Slavery Network and Pan-Lancashire Anti-Slavery Partnership, as well as national charity Causeway and Merseyside Police to answer any questions, give advice and inform the public on spotting the warning signs of slavery.

You can see the bus and speak to all those onboard as it stops across the region at:

  • 10am -10.45am - Church Square, Church Street, St Helens town centre WA10 8US
  • 11.05am – 11.40am – Morrisons, Kirkby town centre, Knowsley L32 8US
  • 12pm – 12.50pm - Bootle Leisure Centre car park, Sefton L20 5BY
  • 1.15pm – 2pm – Derby Square, Liverpool city centre L2 1XA
  • 2.30pm – 4pm - St John Street, Birkenhead CH41 6HY

Tackling Modern Slavery is a priority for the Police and Crime Commissioner who launched a region-wide strategy earlier this year focusing on tackling the issue of exploitation and improving the support provided to victims.

One of the actions set out in the plan looks to raise awareness amongst the public on what Modern Slavery is and how to spot the warning signs.

Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell said: "The public play a vital role in the fight against slavery and trafficking.

"By acting as the police's eyes and ears, they can help to spot the warning signs of someone being exploited. Thousands of vulnerable people are believed to be trafficked in the UK every year, yet only a very small proportion of cases are brought to the attention of the police and other authorities.

“We can change that by raising awareness of this despicable crime amongst the public, so they know how to spot the signs and report it.

"The Freedom Bus is a great way for driving awareness and bringing this hidden issue into the open, and I am so pleased that it will be covering the whole of Merseyside for the first time.

"I encourage everyone to learn how to spot the signs of exploitation, doing so could help save an innocent victims life from years of emotional, physical, and financial suffering. Even if you’re unsure, the helpline provides confidential advice and any information you can provide will help to stamp out slavery for good.”

To find out more about the warning signs of Modern Slavery, or to report any concerns, contact the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700 or file a report online: https://www.modernslaveryhelpline.org/report