US DHS to train federal officers to tackle human trafficking

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is set to train law enforcement officers and agents from Cabinet level Department on recognising signs of human trafficking.

The agency announced the human trafficking training programme, which will be carried out as part of basic training courses at Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC).

DHS deputy secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said: "To fight human trafficking in the United States, we are empowering federal law enforcement with the tools and resources to recognize and report this heinous crime.

"I commend the leadership and all of the women and men of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers who had the insight and innovation to incorporate human trafficking training into their curriculum."

Currently, US DHS runs the Blue Campaign drive alongside law enforcement, government, non-governmental and private organisations, to combat human trafficking in the country.

The operational strategies of the campaign include raising public awareness about human trafficking and educating the public to recognise and report any suspected incidents.

FLETC director Connie Patrick said: "We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe.

"Through these new training curriculum taught as part of our basic training academies, thousands of frontline federal law enforcement personnel will be able to recognize and help those who are victims of this heinous crime."

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) claims that pending human trafficking cases in US have increased from 167 since 2009 to 459 by the end of 2012.