Overview

• Thames Valley Police say scoring more than 128 adverts led to 40 visits, dozens of people safeguarded, multiple arrests and five live investigations.
• Sixteen UK police forces and two charities have adopted the STIM, alongside four agencies overseas and Denmark’s Centre Against Human Trafficking.
• The system analyses advert photos, language and other details to assign low, medium or high risk ratings that guide operational priorities and support.
• Police cite the tool’s value because victims rarely self‑report, noting it helps identify those most at risk and set timeframes for action.
• Project leaders report 30 training sessions for over 100 police representatives, with ongoing updates based on feedback from users.