A “Freedom Bus” was in Bolton over the weekend aiming to raise awareness of the scourge of modern slavery and how it can be tackled. The bus was parked on Victoria Square in the town centre in the morning on Saturday October 19 as part of anti-slavery week from October 14 to October 20. Council cabinet member for stronger communities Cllr Rabiya Jiva, whose role includes policing and public safety says she went to the square to see the Freedom Bus for herself.
She said: “Bolton is committed to the eradication of all forms of slavery. “I ask people to use the reporting mechanism in place or reach out for support if you are in this situation.” The bus displays information about modern slavery (Image: Public) The Freedom Bus was in Victoria Square from 9.
30am to 11.30am before driving up to St Peters Square in Manchester, where it stayed from 12.30pm to 2.
30pm. It was at these busy locations as part of a public-facing event aimed at making people aware of modern slavery and what they can do to report it if they think they see evidence of it. The events, and others like them marking anti-slavery week were hosted by Greater Manchester Police (GMP), Programme Challenger together with Causeway, an anti-modern slavery charity.
Greater Manchester deputy mayor Kate Green said: "We must dispel the myth that modern slavery and human trafficking happens somewhere else. “Sadly, it is happening here in Greater Manchester. "But through Programme Challenger, our partnership with G.
