North Wales Police say pensioners are victims of modern-day slavery and human trafficking, and have appointed someone to help tackle the problem.

According to the force, a record number of victims of modern-day slavery and human trafficking are coming to light in the area, including pensioners in their 60s and 70s.

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones said 2019 saw a 60 per cent increase in cases, from 63 to around 100.

The majority of cases involved youngsters being coerced into selling drugs, but older people are also being targeted because they are vulnerable because of their age, loneliness or disability.

The news came during a meeting with the newly-appointed modern-day slavery case worker, Kamille Fijalkowski.

Ms Fijalkowski is the second person to hold the pioneering position funded by the commissioner.

She is based at the Victim Help Centre in St Asaph which serves the whole of North Wales, bringing together the support services of North Wales Police, the Witness Care Unit of the Crown Prosecution Service and the former Victim Support organisation.

Ms Fijalkowski, 25, said modern-day slavery and human trafficking is a growing problem.

“The County Lines gangs from places like Merseyside and Manchester often use violence to drive out local dealers,” she said.

“They will frequently target children and adults - often with mental health or addiction problems - to act as drug runners or move cash so they can stay under the radar of law enforcement.

“In other cases the dealers will take over a local property, normally belonging to a vulnerable older person, and use it to operate their criminal activity from.

“People exploited in this way will quite often be exposed to physical, mental and sexual abuse, and in some instances will be trafficked to areas a long way from home as part of the network’s drug-dealing business.”

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