A POSTER campaign to raise the public’s awareness of human trafficking in and around Poole has been launched.

With the support of Borough of Poole Council and Churchill Contract Services, the Soroptimists of Poole and the Purple Teardrop Campaign have placed posters in all of the town’s public toilets.

On the information sheets, it lists some of the signs to look out for in reference to human trafficking and gives a telephone number to ring for reporting any suspicions that people may have.

A spokesman for the Purple Teardrop Campaign (PTC) said: “It was some Soroptimists Clubs in the north of England who first came up with the idea of displaying information in public toilets to both raise awareness of the crime and provide the Crimestoppers number for people to report any suspicious activity.

“We were therefore delighted when we got strong support from Poole council for doing this locally.”

Cllr Xena Dion, cabinet portfolio holder for a prosperous and sustainable poole, said: “The council fully supports the Purple Teardrop Campaign and we will take every opportunity to raise awareness of the issue of human trafficking.

“The posters in toilets campaign is a great idea and one that we are pleased to be involved with.”

Cllr Carol Evans, Poole Town Ward Councillor and Deputy Mayor of Poole, said: “I think that in light of human trafficking, especially as we are a port town, people can come in and this unfortunately sometimes happens illegally.

“I think that it is great that these posters are in places where they can be seen and it has been a pleasure to work with the Soroptimists International within the borough of Poole.”

For more information, go to purpleteardrop.co.uk