Human trafficking is an issue that cannot be ignored, according to West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner.

Mark Burns-Williamson has called for the creation of a national working group among Police and Crime Commissioners to tackle trafficking head on.

He was speaking during a conference in Leeds, which was also addressed by Keighley’s former police chief, Allan Doherty, director of operations at Hope for Justice.

The event was designed to develop an understanding of the scale and signs of human trafficking.

Mr Burns-Williamson said: “The potential scale has been revealed in recent ground-breaking police and partnership operations.”

Mr Doherty said Hope for Justice was calling for a regional anti-trafficking network to be established in Yorkshire and the Humber.