Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister David Ford has welcomed the UK government’s announcement that an enhanced UK-wide “modern slavery” helpline will be launched next year.

The helpline, designed to help survivors ask for support and make it easier for members of the public to report suspected labour exploitation, has been developed through a partnership between the Home Office, US NGO Polaris, and search engine giant Google’s charitable arm.

UK Home Secretary Theresa May said the new collaboration will “improve our response to modern slavery and help stamp out this vile form of exploitation”.

Mr Ford added: “This is a positive step forward in the fight against traffickers and slavery masters. These are truly horrific crimes that dehumanise people.

“I am pleased that victims in Northern Ireland and across the whole of the UK stand to benefit from the enhanced helpline.

“The new helpline has been developed by the UK Government in partnership with the US-based NGO Polaris and with an £1million in start-up funding from Google.org.

“It reinforces the value of partnership working and exemplifies how the public, private and third sectors can work together effectively to not only benefit victims but also to support law enforcement in disrupting perpetrators and bringing them to justice.”