A key priority in the Police and Crime Commissioner’s 2024-29 Police and Crime Plan is to ‘Ensure the right support for victims & vulnerable people.’
To support this priority, the PCC launched a competitive funding process in summer 2025 to:
- Enhance existing support and protection for vulnerable victims;
- Reach and support under-represented groups
Following a meeting on 16 September 2025, the PCC decided to fund Soroptimist International Stockton branch to provide emergency supplies for victims of exploitation.
Support will be targetted at those who have been recovered from trafficking or modern slavery situations across Cleveland. Funding of £3,900 will come from the Community Safety initiatives Fund.
Support will go to individuals, who find themselves without access to clothes, food and toiletries. This is as a result of how they were rescued from dangerous and illegal situations.
Supplies – or “grab bags”- will help in the first hours before victims are referred to other services through the National Referral Mechanism model.
Soroptimist International link with the Cleveland Police Complex Exploitation Team to provide emergency ‘grab bags’
The bags are then distributed by Cleveland Police to where victims are rescued from modern slavery situations.
The number of victims supported through the National Referral Mechanism has been steadily increasing, both locally and nationally. This indicates an increased demand for this service.