A TEAM of specialist officers working to stamp out the exploitation of vulnerable people across Bolton has made trailblazing progress, a review of its first year has revealed.

GMP's Modern Slavery Co-ordination Unit was launched in March 2015 to crack down on crooks who con, intimidate and coerce others into prostitution or forced labour as well as those bringing about sham marriages, forced servitude and, although there is no evidence of it yet in the region, organ harvesting.

Tony Lloyd, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), has been told in the performance report being discussed at tomorrow's PCC Public Forum meeting that the unit has made great strides in all aspects of trafficking and slavery.

The report said: "Initially the intelligence picture was limited and based almost wholly on police intelligence.

"We have therefore sought to improve the flow of intelligence and information into the unit."

It means more tip-offs are being received via workers in the healthcare and local government and from community groups.

Last year there were 83 offences of modern slavery investigated and 89 victims were given support including accommodation for up to 45 days.

So far this year there have been 26 offences and 12 victims.

Officers received 581 tip-offs last year and in 2016 already 139 separate pieces of intelligence have been logged.

The report reveals that due to problems with settling and protecting victims in the UK, there is a five-day wait before they can be accepted for accommodation and finding onward permanent housing can be difficult.

The force is trying to secure a safe short-term accommodation unit from a partner organisation.

A Greater Manchester Modern Slavery Network is being developed to bring together faith groups, community groups, voluntary organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to improve communication and co-ordination such as the Red Cross providing reception centres for victims found during police raids.

More training is being delivered in the complex world of trafficking and slavery and over the next six months there will be a specify focus on equipping businesses to flag up offences.

And the addition of two detectives to the unit is just one way the unit is bolstering its capabilities.

The report added: "In Greater Manchester we have identified that high numbers of victims and offenders are from certain Eastern European countries and as such have focused efforts on the development of working relationships with Hungary and Romania.

"This has involved several meetings in both countries with law enforcement, social work, and NGOs to develop joint working agreements.

"We have already seen benefits from this including the provision of appropriate support for victims upon return to their home countries as well as examples of intelligence sharing."

Last month there was a Week of Action including raids at the Bolton Halal Chicken processing factory — formerly Bolton Poultry Products — in Moncrieffe Street in Bolton town centre where consequently three people were charged with servitude.

Officers visited a total of 129 addresses across Greater Manchester, resulting in 29 modern slavery-related arrests and 19 arrests for suspected immigration offences.

Nine potential victims were discovered, including six men removed from the Bolton chicken plant, and 16 referral notices were served on the employers of illegal workers.

Author Assistant Chief Constable Rebekah Sutcliffe said in the report: "GMP is currently considered to be leading the way nationally in terms of the response to modern slavery, both from a policing and wider partnership perspective.

"We have close working links with the Home Office and the Modern Slavery Commissioner, both of whom are keen to understand how the speed of our development and elements of the overall response can be replicated in other areas."