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TOEX Team Receive Partnership Award

The TOEX team from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) were recognised for the difference they made to a trafficking investigation at the annual Norfolk Exceptional Policing Awards earlier this month.

TOEX were one of a number of units who received the Teamwork Award for their partnership working.

They were recognised for their collective response to target organised criminality involving vulnerable victims being trafficked from abroad for the purpose of sexual and financial exploitation.

Working together, targeted visits were conducted resulting in intelligence, evidence and safeguarding of women hidden from view.

Seven offenders in total were charged with human trafficking offences.

Detective Inspector Gary Pemberton, who leads the TOEX team in ERSOU, said: “We’re really pleased that the efforts of TOEX has been recognised alongside a number of other units at the Norfolk Awards.

“Such operations are great examples of the different partnership working can make to complex investigation and vulnerable victims.

“The key to the success in this operation from our perspective were how inclusive and supportive Norfolk were in relation to TOEX’s involvement.

“This was the first large scale trafficking operation in the region that our TOEX team had worked on which resulted in enforcement, so it was great to be able to see victims safeguarded and people charged.

“We are committed to continuing our work alongside forces to ensure the ongoing disruption and prosecution of such gangs and the vital safeguarding of vulnerable people.”