Fire chiefs have backed a city-led pledge to show commitment to a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of modern slavery.
The Safer Leeds Safeguarding and Domestic Violence Team launched the Leeds Pledge to Tackle Modern Slavery to mark National Anti-Slavery Day on Tuesday 18 October 2022.
tackle modern slavery
Partners from across statutory, third sector, and business services in the city joined together to back this pledge, including from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS).
The pledge is for all local services to work together to tackle modern slavery and help put an end to this crime.
eliminating discrimination
As a public sector organization, we are dedicated in our approach to tackling modern slavery"
Leeds Assistant District Commander - Adam Garvey, who attended yesterday’s event on behalf of the service, said “We are committed as a service to eliminating discrimination and exploitation."
He adds, “As a public sector organization, we are dedicated in our approach to tackling modern slavery. We do this by ensuring that we act with transparency in all our business dealings or our supply chain, putting effective systems and controls in place to safeguard against all forms of modern slavery."
Anti-Slavery Day
Adam Garvey continues, “Anti-Slavery Day yesterday provided an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of human trafficking and modern slavery, and it encourages public sector services like ourselves, as well as other organizations and individuals, to do what they can to address this problem, which has absolutely no place in our world today.”
Keynote speakers who attended the event at Leeds Civic Hall included representatives from West Yorkshire Police, Palm Cove Society, Ashiana, Justice and Care, and Hope for Justice.
take action
Whether you are in the public sector, the voluntary sector, retail, or something else – this pledge is for us all"
A spokesperson from the event said, “This event showed people how they can support the Leeds Pledge and take action, regardless of where you work, live or volunteer."
The spokesperson adds, “Whether you are in the public sector, the voluntary sector, retail, hospitality, agriculture, beauty, production, construction, finance, tech, transport, or something else – this pledge is for us all.”
create modern slavery risks
A spokesperson from the Slave-Free Alliance, who instigated the UK Anti-Slavery Day, said “We all need to consider the impact of our organizations’ initiatives on workers and the communities in which we operate. Today, conflict and crisis, as we see in Ukraine and Syria, create modern slavery risks in our workforces."
The spokesperson adds, "As we make critical traction towards an eco-sustainable future, we need to ensure we consider that the renewable goods we buy for instance are not made by people trapped in forced labour. By reducing the risk and addressing modern slavery in the reaches of our organizations, we are contributing to responsible and sustainable business practices.”
