The council says it is pleased with the 'remarkable' work undertaken by its modern slavery team this year.

Enfield Council’s modern slavery team helped provide evidence for the police and Crown Prosecution Service to charge four people with modern slavery offences.

Formed in January 2020, the teams first annual report has celebrated its work and progress.

"Slavery targets the very fabric of society. It can take many forms, some well-known such as sexual exploitation, labour exploitation and domestic servitude. Other less recognised forms include organ harvesting, forced and sham marriage," a council spokesperson said,.

The modern slavery team is comprised of two investigators who provide advice and guidance to other professionals in cases of suspected modern slavery, and gather intelligence on cases.

The team was one of the first to be set up in London and has been involved in many police operations including Operation Ardiles on local car washes, Operation Stenico on local brothels, Operation Taipan regarding county lines and Operation Boxster in Edmonton on sex workers.

From March 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021, the team has delivered 60 awareness training sessions to 715 delegates in a variety of teams across Enfield including GP’s, local hospitals. schools and social care workers.

In April 2020 a specialist modern slavery helpline for professionals and members of the public was established; in just under a year, 146 calls to the helpline were received.

Cllr Alev Cazimoglu, cabinet member for health and social care, said: “The council is determined to play its part in the fight against modern slavery, whether it’s happening within the borough or elsewhere. I am very pleased with the remarkable work carried out by the team.

“I hope that they will continue to build on their successes, help and support the victims of this crime and work with the police to bring the perpetrators to justice.”