People Against Sex Trafficking
The PAST initiative works to bring the community together to develop local solutions to the local problems associated with sex trafficking. It aims to promote a zero-tolerance policy towards exploitation. No one should be a victim of violence and abuse. We promote helpful ways of engaging with this issue and encourage compassion for those affected by exploitation. Compassion whether they have been personally exploited, or have their daily lives and safety disrupted by witnessing and living in an area where sex trafficking is evident.
PAST meetings are held bi-monthly and are attended by many key agencies who seek to see an end to sex trafficking. If you would like to have input into our community strategies, please get in touch with jayne@lastmatters.co.uk it’d be great to have your support.
Do you live locally? PAST runs a Drop-In session at the Lagoa Cafe on High Town Road, every Thursday from 10:00-11:30. This is a great opportunity for you to come along and share your concerns and find some support if you are feeling impacted by sex trafficking in your community.
Whether you’re distressed, sad, angry, frustrated by what you are perhaps seeing or hearing in your local area, we want to know about it. Together we can tackle sex trafficking. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their town.
“I’ve lived in Luton all my life; I know what happens on the streets but never knew an answer. Azalea has opened my eyes and inspired me. I really want to help.”
— Isaac – Luton Resident and member of PAST Professionals
“It felt really important to go to the evening, to learn about sex trafficking and what it means for the women involved as well as the men ‘buying’. It’s such an important issue to be aware of, especially when it affects your wider, local community so much. We must discuss these issues and help to bring them to the foreground of our society so we can tackle it easily.”
— Community Hub attendee
You might be shocked to learn that sex trafficking is taking place in your neighbourhood. Your neighbourhood matters. Here’s what you can do:
GET IN-THE-KNOW
Familiarise yourself with the Signs of sex trafficking you might see in the people, houses and traffic around your neighbourhood and the Signs of grooming, if you have concerns about someone you care for
Read the Sex Trafficking Toolkit for Communities to learn more about the issue.
Take notes on what you’re seeing, in particular car registration plates you suspect might belong to sex buyers.
This toolkit is a collaboration between People Against Sex Trafficking (PAST), Azalea and Safer Streets Bedfordshire with the aim of informing and empowering you to understand and take safe action in order to see sex trafficking reduce in your neighbourhood. The PAST initiative exists to inspire communities to find local solutions to the local problem of sex trafficking.
The toolkit offers a wealth of information relating to defining the problem: including terms and definitions of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking; Sex Trafficking; How to recognise the signs of Sex Trafficking; Case Studies and Myth Busting. In addition, you will find robust and practical answers to the question what can we do about it? This is presented with information relating to the importance of reporting; Flint; the Nordic Model; contacts for local and National services and how to stay informed.
Watch ‘Sold: Sex Slaves Next Door’ – a vital documentary on the prevalence of sex trafficking in the UK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g85W8ce1JU
Follow this link to learn more about Azalea’s involvement in supporting survivors of international sex trafficking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaTGruMu1TM
GET IN TOUCH
You can contact any of the following organisations to report your concerns and to get help.
POLICE
Call 999 in an emergency.
Call 101 if you do not need an immediate response.
CRIMESTOPPERS
Call anonymously on 0800 555 111 or by using our simple anonymous online form on www.crimestoppers-uk.org
SAFER STREETS
Connect with the Safer Streets team by sending an email to SSFCoordinator@luton.gov.uk
PAST (People Against Sex Trafficking)
If you want to talk through your concerns, or are unsure where to take your concerns you can send an email to jayne@lastmatters.co.uk or call us on 01582 733200.
We are available Monday – Friday, 9-5.