Hertfordshire Police and community groups have launched a campaign to tackle modern day slavery.

The programme was launched alongside Anti-Slavery Day, which takes place across the UK annually on October 18.

It comes after a dramatic increase in the number of potential victims of slavery in Hertfordshire.

Campaigners have called on the public to get behind the mission of abolishing slavery by keeping an eye out for any evidence of it taking place.

Detective Superintendent Dave Wheatley said: “Our new modern slavery partnership needs one more key partner on board and that is the people of Hertfordshire.

“Trafficking and slavery victims can be forced to work for little or no money or their lives are controlled by others.

“However they may still be living or working in plain sight of the public, so we are appealing to people to look out for the signs and to report any concerns they have. Through the public’s help we can stamp out these abusive and inhumane crimes.”

Since 2009, 119 potential victims have been identified in Hertfordshire, though not all of them had offences committed against them within the county.

The number has shot up recently and 47 potential victims have been identified so far this year. This compares to 10 in 2015 and 26 in 2016.

The public can report any concerns they have to the police via 101 or on the national helpline 0800 121 700.