Elliot and I were joined this morning by Sarah Bell and Garry Smith, who are launching a new group next week to help the fight against human trafficking. Active Communities against Trafficking is a network of groups under the umbrella organisation Stop the Traffik, and as the news of the police raid in Bedfordshire earlier this week highlighted, it’s not just the bigger cities where people – normally youngsters – have been coerced into working against their will. Sarah and Garry gave examples of a variety of situations where this could be happening within our own communities, ways to spot it and what you should do if you suspect that something’s not right.

Sarah and Garry also gave some useful contact numbers:

• NSPCC Child Trafficking Advice & Information Line – 0800 800 5000
• Child Social Services – 0845 603 7634
• Stop UK’s Trafficking Helpline – 0844 800 3314
• Crimestoppers – 0800 555 111

The launch meeting of the new Chelmsford ACT group is next Wednesday eveing at Costa Coffee in the Meadows Shopping Centre, starting at 7pm. To contact the group e-mail pt@cgcchelmsford.com. Even if you can’t join the group, you can find other ways to show your support in the fight against trafficking at Heaven’s Attic.

We also chatted with Brentwood Councillor Mark Reed, who’s organising the Martyr’s Walk next Saturday, when local theatre group DOT Productions will be telling the story of William Hunter. Everyone’s invited to go along and possibly join in and learn more about William and in particular his last weeks and hours – and it might help you decide whether you think he was indeed a Martyr – or perhaps Misguided? Mark and I also paid brief tribute to Ernie Clark, founder with his late wife Paula of the Hopefield Animal Sanctuary, who passed away last weekend.

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