EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION and the role of NGOs, including Crime Stoppers 34 th Annual Crime Stoppers International Conference Simon Excell UK Immigration Adviser, Turks & Caicos Islands

Turks & Caicos Islands  British Overseas Territory  Northern rim of Caribbean  620 miles south of Miami; 90 miles north of Haiti  Official Population c.32,000  c.7,000 “Belongers”  Significant Haitian, DR & Jamaican migrant populations  Estimated > 10,000 illegal population

The Threats Sloop Arrivals Clandestine ‘fast boats’ landings People (Mixed Migration Flows) Economic Migrants Humanitarian Protection Trafficked Victims Criminals Commodities Drugs Weapons TCI Communities Harm Social Cohesion Health Support Costs

The Response: Local Partnerships TCI IRREGULAR MIGRANT CONTINGENCY PLAN  TCI Radar Station  Marine Police Unit  Customs  Immigration  Ministry of Health  Social Welfare Department  Haitian Consul  NGOs: Red Cross, Human Rights Commissioner

The Response : Regional Partnerships  US Coast Guard: Operation Bahamas, Turks & Caicos (OpBAT)  UNHCR  Intelligence  UK Risk & Liaison Overseas Network (RALON)  Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Immigration  Haitian Government  Homeland Security/FBI  Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA)

International Trafficking Abuse  UK identified alleged trafficking abuse from 80 different countries  47 relating to children  Significant OCGs profits from people trafficking  Same routes commonly used for commodity smuggling  People Trafficking for range of illicit purposes  Sexual Exploitation  Forced Labour  Domestic Servitude  Benefit Fraud  Cannabis Farming  Street Begging/Crime  Organs/Body Parts

BODY PARTS : ‘TORSO IN THE THAMES’  Torso of small boy discovered floating in River Thames in 2001  Arms, legs & head expertly cut off  Evidence of drugged potion inducing paralysis  Forensic tests on stomach contents & bone tissue revealed Nigerian origins  Clothing unique outlets in Hamburg  Believed trafficked to UK from Nigeria through Germany  Subjected to ritual sacrifice  Sub-Sahara Africa beliefs – child body parts sacred  International collaboration

“Adam” Torso Illustration

OPERATION GOLD  Trafficked Romanian children into UK  Controlled Street Gangs, pick- pockets, thefts, ATM skimming  Collaboration between UK Immigration, Metropolitan & Romanian Police  181 identified trafficked Roma children  Cross-border investigations  26 convictions for Trafficking

THE COLLABORATIVE RESPONSE Victim identification, protection & care  Awareness raising of government & non-government organisations  Reflection periods  Secure victim protection Upstream disruption  Intelligence and awareness sharing  Targeting of traffickers in host country Communicating risks to potential victims Intelligence Picture  De-briefing of victims & traffickers  Trend analysis of routes, persons, methods  Sharing/analysis of data, information and intelligence Effective Operations  Targeted strikes  Disruption & Prosecution  High volume Media Messaging

The Collaborative Response: CSI & other NGOs  Non-authority  Trusted, anonymised information gatherer  Strong links with Government Enforcement Agencies  Pro-active international messaging capability  Recognising behavioural indicators;  Welfare groups  Charitable Institutions  Airline & Ship personnel “Human trafficking is a truly international crime, it destroys lives and damages communities. Victims of trafficking have been deceived and exploited, they will undoubtedly be frightened and vulnerable. The transport and exploitation of vulnerable men, women and children by predatory organised criminal groups is something that no civilised country should tolerate. We need to do more to stop this horrific crime”. Theresa May, UK Home Secretary