Announcement of a leadership transition at STOP THE TRAFFIK

STOP THE TRAFFIK is proud to announce a pivotal leadership transition aimed at supporting our mission to disrupt human trafficking at its core through data and intelligence. With nearly two decades of dedicated service, Neil Giles, our valued Director of Intelligence, has been instrumental in our efforts against modern slavery for 15 years.

Neil Giles: Leading the Charge with Data-Driven Disruption 

Neil Giles’ journey with STOP THE TRAFFIK began in 2007, but his commitment to dismantling human trafficking networks has been anything but coincidental. With a background rooted in law enforcement—working with New Scotland Yard, Regional and National Crime Squads before ending his law enforcement career as the Deputy Director of the Serious Organised Crime Association (Now known as the National Crime Agency)—Neil brought decades of experience to the fight against organised crime.

In 2017, Neil co-founded the Traffik Analysis Hub (TA Hub) of which he is now the President which has grown to become the world’s most comprehensive dataset on human trafficking, containing over seven million data points. This cross-sector intelligence platform connects Financial Institutions (FIs), Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs), NGOs, and frontline workers, that allow us to analyse trafficking trends, recruitment methods, and the illicit financial flows that fuel exploitation. By integrating survivor narratives, de-personalised data, and frontline intelligence, TA Hub offers a granular understanding of the trafficking landscape.

Under Neil’s leadership, STOP THE TRAFFIK has built the infrastructure to visualise human trafficking hotspots and uncover hidden patterns. His unwavering dedication ensures that our intelligence products are actionable, precise, and directed toward safeguarding the most vulnerable.

For Neil to continue to build global relationships and provide strategic intelligence advice to the organisation, he will be transitioning into the role of our Global Intelligence Ambassador and retaining his role as the President of the Traffik Analysis Hub.  Neil will continue driving global awareness and engagement while fostering partnerships that extend the reach of STOP THE TRAFFIK. His work exemplifies how innovative data strategies can render human trafficking high-risk and low-profit, systematically dismantling the pillars of exploitation.

“STT has developed a trafficking prevention process that really works in vulnerable communities, generates intelligence products for multiple actors, both private and public that attacks the economics of trafficking. Now is the time to scale this work – that’s what I am going to do next.”

– Neil Giles, President of the Traffik Analysis Hub

Nick’s Vision: From Law Enforcement to Intelligence-Led Action 

After a rigorous search and recruitment process, Nick Dale will be joining the team as the new Director of Intelligence. Nick brings an extensive law enforcement background, having served over two decades with West Midlands Police. His commitment to disrupting exploitation began in Birmingham, where he worked across policing ranks to tackle organised crime, with a particular focus on human trafficking and exploitation.

In 2015, Nick led Operation Fort, the largest modern slavery investigation in UK history. This operation identified around 400 victims and led to the conviction of over a dozen traffickers. His experience highlighted the critical role data plays in uncovering hidden networks of exploitation. Through multiple roles in local policing, intelligence, and counterterrorism, Nick consistently focused on organised exploitation, sexual exploitation, and county lines trafficking.

As a Senior Intelligence Manager for Serious Organised Crime and Exploitation, Nick championed the use of data analytics to prevent trafficking. His leadership in building tools to streamline intelligence for law enforcement has modernised the fight against traffickers.

At STOP THE TRAFFIK, Nick’s expertise will be invaluable as we continue to push the boundaries of intelligence-led action. His work is pivotal in ensuring that our intelligence insights not only support law enforcement efforts but also shape preventive strategies to protect at-risk communities.

“I’m really excited to be joining the team. Over the past 10 years or so I have seen so many cases of exploitation, including some really harrowing stories of sexual and county lines exploitation, which could have been prevented if human trafficking was better understood, and if data was shared and analysed more effectively. Our success will depend on identifying and tackling networks, working with great partners in law enforcement, the financial industry, civil society and others, preventing exploitation before it happens. I have seen so many stories of what has happened to victims – I would love to see stories about the exploitation that was prevented.”

– Nick Dale, STOP THE TRAFFIK Director of Intelligence

The Future: A Data-Driven Battle to End Exploitation 

Together, Neil and Nick have shown the world how data and intelligence can transform the fight against human trafficking. Their contributions at STOP THE TRAFFIK are reshaping how we understand, track, and dismantle the criminal networks driving exploitation.

“I am really looking forward to Nick Dale joining STT. He will bring fresh ideas and energy to the intelligence arena and, between us we will enhance the investment in our growing community”

– Neil Giles, President of the Traffik Analysis Hub

From visualising trafficking trends on a global scale to leveraging survivor narratives that deepen our understanding of traffickers’ methods, their work underscores the power of data in tackling hidden crimes. But more than this, Neil and Nick’s leadership invites collaboration across sectors—be it with financial institutions, businesses, or law enforcement—making it clear that disrupting human trafficking requires collective intelligence and coordinated action.

At STOP THE TRAFFIK, we are rewriting the narrative on modern slavery, not only by safeguarding the vulnerable but also by fundamentally shifting the economic models that fuel exploitation. The efforts of Neil and Nick prove that with the right tools, a world where human lives are never bought or sold is within reach.

“We are thrilled to welcome Nick Dale into the STOP THE TRAFFIK team as our new Director of Intelligence. Nick comes with incredible experience across both intelligence led policing and developing the use of data analytics to disrupt. Both critical STT capabilities.

Neil Giles, who has pioneered so much of our work, moves to be the President of TAHub and STT Global Intelligence Ambassador where he will continue to expand our global partnerships and impact and work with Nick across our operations and future strategy.

Our intelligence led approach to preventing human trafficking is working. This timely expansion  of our intelligence capabilities enables us to respond to the increasing global engagement across our diverse networks which include financial, commercial, law enforcement, government and civil society partners. All are intent on disrupting traffickers and their business.

We are excited to have Nick join our team and excited about what we can achieve together.”

– Ruth Dearnley OBE , STOP THE TRAFFIK CEO

Join us in this journey. Together, we can disrupt human trafficking and create a future where every person’s inherent worth is respected and protected.