The sharing of data around modern-day slavery and its connections to homelessness has been discussed by experts, academics and police at a conference hosted by the University of Huddersfield.

And the multi-agency event, designed as a platform for debate, will allow key findings to be shared with leading anti-slavery campaigners at a national level.

Hosted by West Yorkshire’s Police & Crime Commissioner, Mark Burns-Williamson, the partnership conference builds on the findings of a 2017 report by homelessness charity The Passage.

The report, which was supported by the office of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, made 12 recommendations including closer working between local authorities and police to raise awareness of modern slavery.

It also highlighted appropriate data collection to increase understanding of the links with homelessness and the establishment of partnerships across homelessness charities, anti-slavery organisations, police, local authorities and others in addressing gaps in support.

Mr Burns-Williamson, who is also the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ (APCC) lead for Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, said creating a platform for debate was “incredibly important”.

He described the report by The Passage as “a real indicator of what is required in our response to modern-day slavery and its connections to homelessness”.

Simultaneously the West Midlands will host a twin conference with experts participating in workshops to raise awareness of the links, challenges, nature and scale of the issue.

Mr Burns-Williamson added: “These conferences are a great opportunity to bring together all the experts in the field and talk in greater depth about what more can be done in West Yorkshire.

“The information gathered from these discussions will also help to form a national debate on these themes, particularly through the portfolio I hold around Modern Day Slavery and Human Trafficking through the national PCC network, which I chair.

“On Wednesday I will be feeding back much of what I have learned to the next National Anti-Trafficking and Modern Slavery Network (NATMSN) in Coventry.

“By having these conversations and sharing our knowledge, it can only serve to focus efforts around prevention of these horrendous crimes and human rights abuses offering increased support for victims and survivors.”

Among those who attended the event were Gordon Laing, general manager of Leeds-based charity Simon on the Streets, which works to support the homeless across West Yorkshire, and Shaun Sawyer, Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police.

Mr Laing’s charity works with entrenched rough sleepers who are vulnerable to targeting by people wishing to take advantage of them.

He praised Mr Burns-Williamson for publicising the connection between homelessness and rough sleeping, and slavery/trafficking.

Chief Constable Sawyer, who is the National Police Chief Council Lead for Modern Slavery, said the partnership initiative would be “critical” in safeguarding vulnerable people as well as helping wider policing “to better understand the complexity of the challenge”.