A West Midlands woman whose tireless work has helped expose hidden networks of modern slavery and sexual exploitation has been shortlisted for the prestigious Outstanding Citizen Award by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.
Louise Brown (pictured above right), director of the Centre for the Analysis of Exploitation (CeAnEx) at Black Country Women’s Aid, has dedicated her career to identifying and supporting victims who are often invisible to traditional services and cut off from help by traffickers.
Her work combines sharp research skills with on-the-ground action. From building intelligence on trafficking patterns to accompanying police at short notice – often in the middle of the night or even over Christmas – Louise has become a vital force in the region’s fight against exploitation.
“Louise goes to extraordinary lengths to reach the most isolated victims,” said victims’ advocate Natalie Queiroz MBE, who will present the award next month. “Her ability to build trust with women who have been silenced by fear is nothing short of life-changing. She embodies what it means to put victims first.”
Louise has played a central role in Operation Sandstar, a pioneering West Midlands Police pilot that risk-assessed brothels across Birmingham. Her insight not only gave officers vital intelligence but also opened channels of communication with exploited women, ensuring help is there when they are ready to take it.
She also works closely with NHS services, social care, mental health teams, and specialist women’s organisations to ensure survivors can access the National Referral Mechanism and long-term support. Recently, she has even been learning Romanian – the language spoken by the largest group of trafficked women in the West Midlands – to better connect with victims.
Alongside her frontline work, Louise regularly trains police, NHS professionals, and other agencies, while speaking at national and international forums on tackling exploitation. Her model is now being replicated across police forces nationwide.
Louise is shortlisted alongside Marcia Lewinson, the CEO of Birmingham-based charity WAITS (Women Acting In Today’s Society). For over 30 years, Marcia has championed women affected by domestic abuse, social exclusion, and the criminal justice system, leading systemic change and delivering life-saving services to more than 10,000 women and families.
The winner of the Outstanding Contribution to Supporting Victims of Crime award will be announced on Monday, October 6, at the Brasshouse Community Centre in Smethwick.
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