UWTSD to host Modern Slavery Conference on May 26, 2022

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) is hosting a Modern Slavery Conference to bring together the education sector and its front-line multi-agency organisations to collaborate to identify more victims, bring them to safety, provide support, and – where possible – bring their perpetrators to justice.

The conference is being organised as part of the Blue Light Academy's contribution to the University’s Bicentenary year of talks and events. The Academy is an academic discipline within the Institute of Management and Health. Its aim is to deliver programmes and conduct research that develop and enhance the ability of individuals and organisations to improve the effectiveness of the service provided to the public. The development of the academy is based on the ‘one public service ethos’ and the goals of ‘The Well-being of Future Generations Act’.

‘Modern slavery’ is an umbrella term for when one person obtains or holds another person in compelled service, for the purpose of exploitation. Examples of slavery are when individuals are forced to work through mental or physical threat, are owned or controlled by an 'employer' – usually through mental or physical abuse or the threat of abuse – and are dehumanised. They are treated as a commodity, bought, and sold as ‘property’, and physically constrained, or have restrictions placed on their freedom. Exploitation happens to men, women, and children.

The Blue Light Academy has appointed two Professors of Practice, Julian Williams QPM, and Kim Ann Williamson MBE, who have been instrumental in helping organise this conference. Professor Williams will be hosting the conference with Professor Williamson as the Keynote Speaker.

Professor Julian Williams QPM, spent 30 years in the police service working within uniform and detective roles, eventually becoming Divisional Commander of Western Division, with responsibility for Swansea and Neath/Port Talbot. As an Assistant Chief Constable with South Wales Police, he led the specialist operations portfolio and in June 2014 transferred to Gwent Police as an Assistant Chief Constable. He later became the Deputy Chief Constable and in 2017 became the Chief Constable of Gwent Police. Julian retired from the Police service in 2019. He was the Human trafficking/Modern slavery policing lead for Wales from 2014 to 2019 and National Police Chiefs Council lead on ethics and sexual harassment between 2017 and 2019. Whilst Chief Constable of Gwent Police he established a modern slavery team to support victims and tackle perpetrators and set up the Welsh modern slavery threat group, to ensure that national, regional, and local responses were coordinated and had the biggest impact.

Professor Kim Ann Williamson MBE has been an influential role model in the modern slavery arena for many years. She co-founded in 2012, the Wales Anti-Slavery Leadership Group, and currently chairs of the UK Modern Slavery Training Delivery Group. Kim Ann has been instrumental in providing a clear vision that led to multi-agency training, the success of which has secured recognition locally and across the UK. Together with South Wales Police Training Department, she jointly implemented the Organised Crime Modern Slavery Hydra 3-day course for Law Enforcement and Crown Prosecution Service Prosecutors and Crown Advocates. This course was a first for Wales and the UK.

Speakers at the conference will also include Caroline Haughey OBE QC, South Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Dave Thorne, Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner Jeff Cuthbert and Joanne Hopkins from Public Health Wales. Representatives from key organisations who work to identify and eliminate this heinous crime will also be in attendance.

Bronwen Williams, Academic Director for the Blue Light Academy said: “Modern slavery is a crime that affects an estimated 45 million people across the globe. Our aim at UWTSD is to provide a suite of programmes that will align the right skills, powers, and experience to meet challenging anti-slavery requirements.

“As the role of the anti-slavery workforce becomes further embedded in public and private sector organisations, there is a need to ensure that continuous professional development is available which is academically accredited and recognises the skills and knowledge of people required by the role. The MA portfolio of programmes provides this accredited CPD route.

“The programmes have been developed in close and regular liaison with members of the Wales Anti-Slavery Leadership Group.”

Click here to attend the conference : https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/290262993427

The bicentenary commemorates the establishment of St David’s College, Lampeter on 12 August 1822 through the laying the foundation stone which marks the beginning of higher education in Wales. From the seeds sown in Lampeter over two centuries ago and the development of our campuses, we have grown into a multi-campus, dual-sector University providing vocationally relevant programmes in partnership with employers.

Note to Editor

Professor Williamson has been a civil servant for over 37 years and has had significant experience and expertise in the criminal justice environment having worked across policing and prosecution portfolios.

Professor Williamson was instrumental in the successful design, implementation and rollout of the Wales Victims Care Pathway and Modern Slavery Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACS) which was a first for the UK. She founded the Wales Anti-Slavery Training Group to successfully roll out a variety of training packages resulted in training thousands in modern slavery awareness and founded the Wales Anti-Slavery Casework Review Group, which was the first group of its kind in the UK.

At a UK level, Professor Williamson chairs the UK Modern Slavery Training Delivery Group whose sponsor is Caroline Haughey OBE QC. The groups report directly to the National 3P Board which is the UK Strategic Governance Group for the Prevention, Protection and Prepare Components of the Modern Slavery Strategy which is chaired by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Business Energy and Industrial Energy (BEIS). She established this group in 2018 and now has the responsibility to oversee a number of Training Task and Finish Groups relevant to key influential sectors.

Further Information

Rebecca Davies

Swyddog Gweithredol Cysylltiadau â’r Wasg a’r Cyfryngau

Executive Press and Media Relations Officer

Cyfathrebu Corfforaethol a Chysylltiadau Cyhoeddus

Corporate Communications and PR

Mobile: 07384 467071

Email: Rebecca.Davies@uwtsd.ac.uk