Deputy Minister of Interior, Mrs. Elona Gjebrea, on 8-10 February 2017 held a working visit to the UK. In the framework of this visit, Mrs. Gjebrea addressed as a key note speaker the international conference on modern slavery and human trafficking organized by St Mary’s Universityand held two official meetings, with Mr. Brandon Lewis, Home Office Minister for Policingand Mrs. Sarah Newton,Home Office Minister for Vulnerability, Safeguarding and Countering Extremism.
 
The meetings were focused on issues related to the intensification of cooperation between the two countries on the fight against trafficking and organized crime. Both sides expressed their willingness and the necessity of strengthening future cooperation between the two countries and law enforcement agencies in these areas. It was emphasized that the Memorandum of Cooperation signed on 04.12.2014 by Minister of Interior, Saimir Tahiri, and Home Office Secretary, Theresa May, constitutes a solid foundation for institutionalizing this cooperation.
 
During the meeting with Mrs. Newton, it was exchanged information about respective structures that address issues of trafficking and organized crime. Mrs. Newton, after expressed her high appreciation for the latest achievements in Albania in terms of intensifying the fight against these phenomena, focused especially on the problems associated with increasing of the number of persons applying for asylum to the British authorities as victims of trafficking, and on involvement of the Albanian nationals in organized crime activities. Mrs. Gjebrea stressed out that there is a good legal basis for cooperation in this field, mentioning the Memorandum of Cooperation, and asked the British side that the two countries take further steps towards the implementation of this Memorandum, starting with the appointment of contact persons, or specific protocols for its implementation.
 
Ambassador Qirko expressed the readiness of the Embassy to cooperate with the British authorities on the issues related to the fight against trafficking and organized crime. He stressed that to the Embassy is attached a Liaison Officer of the State Police, who is willing to cooperate with British authorities.