CeAnEx is a trusted research provider working in partnership with government, police and statutory agencies to end human trafficking.
Our team has established strong working relationships with authorities throughout the West Midlands and beyond. CeAnEx partners with West Midlands Police Serious Organised Crime and Exploitation (SOCEX), Tackling Organised Exploitation (TOEX) and Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCU). We work directly on operations and assist in the planning support for victims.
We help to prevent and reduce risk and harm for exploited and trafficked women
CeAnEx has also been integral to the success of Operation Sandstar, risk assessing all known brothels in Birmingham. CeAnEx’s capacity to build trust and credible relationships has been key to this Office of the Police Crime Commissioner-funded work. Our connection with the women involved has enabled West Midlands Police to start to build not only a knowledge base, but an understanding of the changing face of sex work. We reach into spaces to connect with the women, for when and if they are ready for help and support. The Birmingham pilot has been shared nationally and the model is being replicated throughout the West Midlands and police forces nationwide.
CeAnEx offers training and awareness of exploitation, and shares intelligence with partners. We have links with every local authority in the West Midlands and we work with them and other agencies to ensure that victims are confident in the system and are supported seamlessly. We work directly with operations and assist in planning support for victims. CeAnEx is in regular communication with the National Crime Agency, sharing information and practical responses, and answering requests for advice and expertise when planning and organising criminal justice responses.
Victims are at the heart of everything we do
We never lose focus on ensuring victims get the help and support they need. We connect with NHS services (maternity, sexual health clinics, mental health services as well as specialist gender-based violence support agencies) to offer invaluable support for victims within the National Referral Mechanism and our parent charity, Black Country Women’s Aid.
Understanding the unique factors behind human trafficking from different countries and regions of the world
In 2023, CeAnEx started to work with the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office as part of the Modern Slavery Fund. This project works across the UK and Romania with specific aims to share intelligence, build relationships with NGOs in Romania and understand the patterns of movement and specific communities the women and girls are coming from. CeAnEx’s research provides in-depth analysis of the different cultural, societal and familial factors that drive human trafficking from countries like Romania, Hungary, China, Brazil and Albania. Although an international issue, modern slavery and exploitation starts with regional or national drivers, which we differentiate in our extensive research.
