Puntos Clave
- Fuerzas fronterizas del Reino Unido impartieron formación conjunta en Chipre en noviembre de 2025 sobre trata y esclavitud moderna.
- El programa SAMS enfatizó indicadores de trata, enfoques centrados en la víctima y la derivación al Mecanismo Nacional de Referencia.
- Las derivaciones en Reino Unido aumentaron: 19.119 en 2024 y 10.985 hasta junio de 2025, mostrando mayor detección.
(CYPRUS) UK Border Force agents have recently conducted joint training sessions with local immigration and customs officers in Cyprus, focusing on modern slavery and human trafficking. The initiative is part of the UK’s broader strategy to protect vulnerable people and disrupt trafficking networks, especially in regions like Cyprus where border vulnerabilities are acute due to proximity to the north.
The latest training, conducted in November 2025, gathered participants from several jurisdictions: UK Border Force agents, immigration and customs officers from the British Bases and Cyprus, and representatives from British missions in Nicosia and Athens. The sessions covered recognizing trafficking indicators, understanding UK and international legal frameworks, adopting victim-centered approaches, and fostering cross-agency cooperation. The purpose is to bolster local capacity to identify and support victims and to strengthen partnerships for dismantling exploitation networks.
The human element of this effort is foregrounded in the voices of those on the front lines. Charlotte Wright, a customs and immigration officer at Akrotiri, described the training as
“absolutely critical,”
emphasizing: “Equipping our officers to identify and support those at risk is fundamental to effective safeguarding.” Amanda Read, UK SAMS lead, reported:
“Enhanced safeguarding measures and stronger partnerships [are] delivering real, lasting change. The commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals and dismantling exploitation networks is clearer than ever.”
Floris Nikandrou, a Cyprus police representative, stated:
“The Cyprus police value initiatives like this course. Training alongside SBA customs and immigration strengthens our partnership, vital for tackling this deeply problematic issue. We look forward to continuing this cooperation.”
The interagency effort is not new. The partnership between UK Border Force and Cyprus officials has occurred previously in 2020 and 2022, signaling an ongoing commitment to regional anti-slavery cooperation. The National Safeguarding and Modern Slavery (SAMS) training program of the UK Border Force is designed to give officers practical tools for victim identification and direct support, moving beyond classroom theory toward real-world applicability. This emphasis fits within the UK’s Modern Slavery Strategy, which positions Border Force officers as “first responders” at the border, responsible for identifying and referring potential victims through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).
Numbers and impact are presented as a barometer of progress. In the United Kingdom, referrals of potential modern slavery victims have reached record highs in recent years. In 2023, referrals totalled 16,985; in 2024, the figure rose to 19,119, marking a 13% increase. By the first half of 2025, 10,985 referrals had been made to the Home Office. These statistics underscore the scale of the challenge, but also the urgency of equipping officers to spot warning signs and to act promptly to protect people at risk. In the South West, Devon and Cornwall Police trained 200 officers in spotting signs of modern slavery and in interviewing potential victims, a concrete example of how training translates into fieldwork.
The training’s outcomes are described in concrete terms by those who implement and benefit from it. After a session for 100 Essex police team members, all participants reported improved capability:
“100% indicated improved ability to identify and assist potential victims,”
while more than three-quarters noted a relevant change in practice. A safeguarding lead in Chelmsford added a personal reflection that illustrates the human dimension of the program:
“I think this training has changed my life! If I had had that information a couple of years ago it would have made a world of a difference to the victim I was working with.”
These anonymized anecdotes and quantified responses point to a broader shift in policing and safeguarding culture, aligning with the SMS framework of victim-centered support and rapid referral.
Yet, as with any complex, cross-border anti-trafficking initiative, challenges persist. Past inspections have found gaps in specialist officer training, with some officers not receiving updated materials and some e-learning packages reduced to a “tick box” exercise rather than delivering practical, victim-centered skills. The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner has stressed that training must be regularly updated and tailored to frontline realities, emphasizing the need for practical guidance that teams can apply in the field. Intelligence sharing between agencies remains a focal point for improvement, with calls for better data collection and coordination to support anti-trafficking efforts.
In Cyprus, the collaborative spirit of the program is framed within a regional perspective on border vulnerabilities. The proximity of Cyprus to areas with trafficking networks makes cross-agency cooperation particularly vital. The initiative’s trajectory, dating back to earlier joint trainings in 2020 and 2022, reflects an evolving understanding of how to deploy resources most effectively at and beyond the border. The UK Border Force’s National Safeguarding and Modern Slavery (SAMS) training is designed to equip officers with practical victim-identification and support skills, which can then be applied across both local and national contexts.
Officials emphasize that the point of such training is not only to identify victims but to ensure they receive swift, appropriate assistance. The emphasis on safeguarding, victim-centered approaches, and rapid referrals through established mechanisms is meant to disrupt exploitation networks at their roots. This operational philosophy aligns with broader policy frameworks that designate frontline officers as critical nodes in a larger ecosystem of protection, justice, and accountability. The aim is to create a more resilient system where cross-agency cooperation—“cooperación interagencial” in practice—enables faster responses, more consistent handling of cases, and better outcomes for those who might otherwise slip through cracks in the system.
Beyond Cyprus, the training’s ripple effects are visible in the UK’s own enforcement and safeguarding programs. The technology and process improvements that accompany training—such as improved reporting channels, standardized interview techniques, and better alignment with the NRM—are designed to translate into more coherent and humane responses to victims. The Devon and Cornwall Police, for example, trained 200 officers in a dedicated program aimed at equipping them to recognize signs and conduct victim-centered interviews. In Essex, the impact of a targeted training session for a 100-officer cohort is described by officials as having yielded tangible changes in practice and a heightened sense of preparedness among officers who may encounter trafficking indicators on the street or in routine investigations.
The role of training in shaping the field is not theoretical. The narrative of frontline officers applying what they learn—interviewing survivors with sensitivity, recognizing red flags, and knowing when and how to refer to the National Referral Mechanism—translates to real-world decisions with gravitas. The quotes from the participants underscore not only their professional commitment but also the emotional and ethical dimensions of their duties. The constancy of the demand for skilled responders at borders and in local communities is underscored by the steady rise in referrals, which, while a sign of better detection, also signals ongoing urgency in safeguarding vulnerable people from exploitation.
The broader context remains centered on two intertwined issues: esclavitud moderna and trata de personas. The Cyprus training, conducted with input from the SBA (standing for Special Branch and Border aspects in some contexts) and local police and customs authorities, is part of a long-term strategy to counter exploitation at critical points of contact. It demonstrates how cooperación interagencial — a term that captures coordination across ministries, agencies, and levels of government — is essential to turning policy commitments into concrete protections for people who might be harmed by criminal networks.
The latest status, as of November 2025, shows that the UK Border Force is actively expanding its training footprint in Cyprus and within its own borders to bolster local officer capability, strengthen interagency cooperation, and safeguard vulnerable individuals more effectively. The aim is not only to identify victims but also to ensure that the response is swift, coordinated, and rooted in a victim-centered ethos. The ongoing training, while yielding measurable improvements, also brings to light ongoing challenges in ensuring that learning remains practical, up-to-date, and supported by robust intelligence sharing. In short, this is a sustained effort to push back against the structures that allow modern slavery to thrive, and to make sure that those who are most at risk receive the protection they deserve.
For readers seeking more context on how these strategic objectives translate into policy and practice, official channels maintain that the National Safeguarding and Modern Slavery program is central to the UK’s approach to the problem. The program emphasizes that frontline officers are not just enforcers but key agents in safeguarding, with responsibilities that extend to identifying victims, offering support, and directing cases into the appropriate referral mechanisms. The training in Cyprus is a visible manifestation of that approach, illustrating how research, policy, front-line practice, and international cooperation converge to confront a challenge that knows no borders.
This piece draws on statements and programmatic details from multiple officials who spoke about the November 2025 training in Cyprus and related UK efforts. As the fight against trafficking and exploitation continues, observers say progress will hinge on ongoing investment in practical, up-to-date training, strengthened data-sharing agreements, and enduring, cross-border partnerships that can adapt to new tactics used by criminal networks. The lesson from Cyprus appears to be that training, properly framed and consistently refreshed, can empower officers to act decisively, protect victims, and contribute to a broader culture of accountability that makes esclavitud moderna and trata de personas less viable in an increasingly complex world.
For readers who want to explore the policy framework in more depth, the UK government’s official resources on modern slavery and safeguarding provide detailed guidance on how referrals to the National Referral Mechanism operate and how frontline staff are trained to detect and respond to indicators of trafficking. Visitors can consult the government’s dedicated pages on modern slavery to understand the policy architecture behind these practical training initiatives and the safeguards designed to protect vulnerable people. To learn more, see the official government collection on modern slavery training and safeguarding programs.
[official government resource on modern slavery training and safeguarding: Modern Slavery Training]
The long view remains clear: through programs like the Cyprus sessions and parallel efforts across the UK, authorities aim to embed a culture of vigilance, victim-centered practice, and interagency cooperation that makes it harder for traffickers to operate and easier for survivors to find protection and justice. The Cyprus exercise, with its blend of frontline officers, prosecutors, police, and border authorities, exemplifies the kind of collaborative, cross-border approach that researchers and policymakers say is essential to combat the scourge of esclavitud moderna and trata de personas in the 21st century.
This narrative, while anchored in the November 2025 Cyprus training, reflects a broader, ongoing process. It is a story of learning on the job, of adjusting strategies in real time, and of international partners standing shoulder to shoulder to interrupt the networks that feed on vulnerability. As authorities assess the results of these efforts, their emphasis remains on protecting the most at-risk individuals, reinforcing the networks of support that enable victims to rebuild their lives, and sustaining the commitment to cooperación interagencial that underpins a more effective, humane response to one of the world’s gravest human-rights challenges.
Aprende Hoy
SAMS → Programa Nacional de Salvaguardia y Esclavitud Moderna; formación del Reino Unido para identificar y apoyar a víctimas.
Mecanismo Nacional de Referencia (NRM) → Proceso del Reino Unido para identificar y apoyar a posibles víctimas de trata y esclavitud moderna.
Enfoque centrado en la víctima → Práctica que prioriza la seguridad y el bienestar de la persona sospechosa de ser víctima sobre la investigación.
Este Artículo en Resumen
En noviembre de 2025 la UK Border Force impartió en Chipre formación SAMS con agentes de inmigración, aduanas y representantes británicos para mejorar la identificación y el apoyo a víctimas de trata. Las sesiones incluyeron señales de alerta, técnicas de entrevista con perspectiva de trauma y pasos de derivación al NRM. Con antecedentes en 2020 y 2022 y un aumento de derivaciones en el Reino Unido, los organizadores subrayaron la importancia de formación práctica continua, estandarización de informes y mejor intercambio de inteligencia.
— Por VisaVerge.com
