A HAMPSHIRE pressure group have been trying to raise awareness of human trafficking, The Southampton and Test Valley Stop the Traffik Group have held an event in front of Winchester Cathedral with a giant gift box.

The ‘Gift Box’ is a street installation that is intended to educate the public about modern slavery. It is a walk-in piece of public art, symbolising the way in which traffickers entice their victims with false promises. There’s a bright outside talking the “gift” of a new life, but once inside you realise the deception.

This installation, meant to be a thought provoking and interactive experience telling real stories from victims of human trafficking across the UK, is touring different cities around the country.

According to Stop the Traffik, the leading anti-human-trafficking pressure group; although slavery was officially abolished in the UK 200 years ago there an estimated 14,000 people are enslaved in the UK.

Stop the Traffik say that human slavery is the fastest growing illegal crime, second only to drug smuggling but is rapidly catching that up.

Southampton and Test Valley Stop the Traffik Group are part of the Hampshire Modern Slavery Partnership working in conjunction with the Police on this issue.

The event in Winchester was one of the last events that retiring Mayor Cllr Jane Rutter attended before she left office.

Also attending the event were, the police, Major Anne Read the UK Salvation Army head of anti-human trafficking and the Dean of Winchester, the Very Reverend Catherine Ogle.

Hundreds of people visited the Gift Box and learnt about Modern Slavery, as well as how to recognise it and what the public response should be.

Inside the Cathedral, other anti human trafficking organisations such as Purple Tear Drop, Medaille, Love 146, and The Salvation Army had stalls with information.

As one of her final acts as mayor Cllr Jane Ritter, attended the Sunday cathedral service where Major Anne Read, Head of Salvation Army Anti Human Trafficking gave the homily. For more information see the website: www.stopthetraffik.org.uk.