Many of us are shocked when we hear of human trafficking reports within the country, yet we don’t expect it to happen locally.

This year has seen two cases within Helensburgh and one in Alexandria.

Last week I spoke about this subject in the Scottish Parliament to question the minister about what the Scottish Government is doing to help support police in and around our area in combatting this issue.

It is an issue which is deeply damaging to individuals and society in general. It removes an individual from their home, their country and forces them to live in usually poor conditions and work long hours for little pay.

We must do all we can to stop these events happening again.

One of my main roles within the Scottish Parliament is community safety and veterans’ affairs, which means I work closely with the emergency services, voluntary community groups and veterans’ charities, groups etc.

It is a role I enjoy very much and am regularly left in awe when learning some of the amazing and selfless work that these individuals do on a daily basis.

We are very fortunate throughout Helensburgh and Lomond and West Dunbartonshire that we have many great organisations and people who are willing to put themselves before others.

Some of you may have spotted Sam Doyle in the past week within Dumbarton or Helensburgh as he was walking through on his quest to walk the entire coastline of Britain, some 7,700 miles over the course of 800 days.

He is currently in his fifth month of walking, his fourth pair of boots and now has company in Jess the dog.

I was honoured to meet the pair of them as they strolled past Geilston Hall in Cardross last week.

Sam is raising awareness and funds for veterans suffering from PTSD through a charity called PTSD Resolution. Please support him by donating online if you can.