Operation Birch: investigating human trafficking

An investigation into human trafficking in the Rochdale Borough and Greater Manchester is being led by Rochdale Borough Council and Greater Manchester Police.

Operation Birch is targeting human trafficking – the illegal practice of enslaving and exploiting people – coming into the region via Birch services in Middleton. People can be trafficked for many different forms of exploitation, such as forced labour, forced begging or forced prostitution.

Since 2015, there have been 100 people smuggled or trafficked via Birch Services, including 22 unaccompanied children. Each child costs the local authority £50,000 a year to look after.

In 2017, a large group of Vietnamese nationals were found at Birch services. 11 of them, thought to be children, were taken into care. Days later, seven of them had disappeared.

Age assessments were being carried out at the time.

Gail Hopper, director of children’s services at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “We are trying to disrupt and find out more about people trafficking and smuggling at Birch Services.

“It is our legal responsibility, and we are happy, to care for vulnerable children and people who come into this country unaccompanied. Some young people who have been here have made great progress and are leading successful lives.

“But our concern is about the criminality that is linked to this activity, which is happening elsewhere in the region, and the way that some people are being exploited. While some young people are arriving at Birch and elsewhere make themselves known so that we can respond, we can’t believe there aren’t others we don’t know about.”

Inspector Paul Wood, of GMP, said: “Operation Birch is a joint approach between GMP and Rochdale Council in response to an increase in human trafficking concentrated around the Rochdale area – specifically in and around Birch Services.

“We have been working closely with Rochdale Council over the past eight weeks to identify and target offenders, and will continue to support our partners as we crack down on this area of criminality across Greater Manchester.”

Locally, human trafficking has been linked with the trade of illegal tobacco: some of those who have come into the borough in this way have been found to be involved with illicit tobacco.

Illegal tobacco can be fake products, smuggled genuine products or brands specifically made for the illicit market. Since 2012, 1.3 million cigarettes and over 500kg of tobacco have been seized.

The sale of such products has proven links to organised crime and can contribute to not only human trafficking but also modern slavery, prostitution and terrorism.

It is not a victimless crime and, with its cheaper price, is targeted at some of the most vulnerable groups, such as young people and those on low incomes. Other linked criminal activity includes counterfeit money, housing and benefit fraud, prostitution, and exploitation.

Illegal tobacco also burdens the health care system, as ingredients are not known or regulated. Higher levels of harmful chemicals, like arsenic or cadmium, have previously been found in counterfeit cigarettes, as have pesticides, asbestos and even dead insects.