Hope for Justice is calling on police forces to work harder to eradicate modern day slavery.

Their regional hubs have been working closely with police to identify and release victims.

One year on from the Modern Slavery Act, Hope for Justice welcomed prime minister Theresa May's commitment to the cause.

Ben Cooley, CEO of Hope for Justice said: "We celebrate the great steps Theresa May and Kevin Hyland, the UK's Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, have already made in eradicating slavery in this country.

"From March 2015 to April 2016, 87 per cent of all referrals made to us have been a direct result of the training we have provided and because of the close working partnership with local police forces. 

"We now have the opportunity to stand on the great foundations set by our Prime Minister and Kevin Hyland and work to ensure that every police officer in every regional force is trained in understanding the signs of modern day slavery."

The Alliance worked alongside other charities to support the passing of the Modern Slavery Act in 2015 and to establish slavery-free supply chains.

Since 2008, Hope for Justice has developed a leading team of specialist investigators, lawyers, trainers and survivor support staff, embedded in local communities across the UK and operate out of regional hubs. 

The charity set up the first regional hub in West Yorkshire to work with West Yorkshire Police and saw 110 rescues of victims of modern slavery in the hub's first year of operation, resulting in almost tripling the number of victims identified and rescued by the police in one year.

Ben Cooley continued: "We are passionate about seeing this strategic model of working together replicated as more needs to be done.

"We want to support and work with the police in the best way we can, helping them build their capacity in order to see more victims living in freedom, holding the perpetrators to account for their actions and enabling survivors to get justice.

"We want to see the end of modern slavery."