Modern Slavery

Modern Slavery is the illegal exploitation of people for personal or commercial gain. Victims are trapped in servitude, which they were deceived or coerced into, and cannot leave.

There is no typical victim of slavery.  Victims of modern slavery and human trafficking adults and children of all ages, gender, ethnicities, and nationalities.  Exploitation is normally more prevalent among the most vulnerable or within minority or socially excluded groups.

How does modern slavery happen? 

It can happen anywhere and preys on vulnerable individuals who are in search of opportunities.

A person coming from a situation of poverty or lack of opportunity, may get an offer of what appears to be a good job.  If coming from abroad, often the victim might need to take a loan from an agent to pay recruitment fees or for travel to the UK. 

When the person arrives the job, and the conditions they were promised are completely different.  If they have travelled to the UK their passport or travel documents are often taken away, and they are told they need to pay off the debt before they can leave.  Violence or threats are frequent practice, both against the victim as well as their family.

Many victims have been trafficked from overseas – frequently from eastern Europe, south east Asia, and Africa – and their exploitation often begins enroute.  British victims tend to have fallen on difficult times, making them vulnerable to the lure of well-paid work complete with decent accommodation, which proves a cruel lie

Facts about Modern slavery

It is estimated that:

• 50 million people worldwide are in modern slavery
• 28 million are in forced labour
• 22 million people are in forced marriages
• The UK government estimates more than 100,000 people in the UK are in modern slavery, according to slavery experts (i.e. much more than official figures)
• One in four victims of modern slavery are children.
• In the UK just under half of referrals to the National Referral Mechanism (47%) were individuals who claimed they were exploited as children.
• Of the 28 million victims of forced labour globally, 24 million people are exploited in the private sector including in domestic work, construction, and agriculture.
• Women and girls account for 99% of victims in the commercial sex industry and 58% in other sectors.
• Cases in Staffordshire have included individuals being exploited sexually, human trafficked and being used in cannabis factories.

The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is the UK Government’s system for supporting victims of modern slavery.

Forms of Modern Slavery

Victims can often face more than one type of abuse and slavery, for example being sold on to another trafficker and then forced into another form of exploitation.

• Forced labour - any work or services which people are forced to do against their will under the threat of a form of punishment.
• Debt bondage - the world’s most widespread form of slavery, when people borrow money and are required to work to pay off the debt, then losing control over the conditions of both their employment and the debt.
• Human trafficking - involves people being transported into a situation of exploitation using violence, deception, or coercion. The purpose of exploitation can range from forced prostitution and forced labour to forced marriage and forced organ removal.
• Descent-based slavery – where people are born into slavery due to belonging to a 'slave class', caste or a group. A child of a mother in slavery is automatically enslaved too.
• Child slavery – defined as the delivery of a child, often by their parents or a guardian, to someone else for the purpose of exploitation. Child slavery can include child trafficking, child soldiers, child marriage and child domestic slavery.
• Forced marriage – when someone is married against their will and cannot leave the marriage.
• The exploitation of migrant workers in conditions amounting to slavery

How to spot a property where a victim of Modern Slavery may be held 

Outside the property 

• Are there bars covering the windows of the property or are they permanently covered on the inside?
• Are the curtains always drawn?
• Do the windows have reflective film or coatings applied to them?  – Does the entrance to the property have CCTV cameras installed? 
• Is the letterbox sealed to prevent use? 
• Is there any sign that electricity may have been tacked on from neighbouring properties or directly from power lines?

Inside the property 

• Is access to the back rooms of the property restricted or are doors locked?
• Is the property overcrowded and badly cared for?

Modern slavery Organisations

The following are organisations working to end modern slavery or providing support to individuals who are victims of it

How to report concerns:

To report suspicious behaviour, you can call your local police on 101 or call 999 in an emergency.  You can also make an anonymous call to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

If you encounter a victim of slavery, you can refer them to the Salvation Army using their 24-hour helpline on 0300 3038151 or call the Modern Slavery Helpline 08000 121 700.

If you are worried about a child, call the NSPCC helpline 0808 800 5000.

What the law says:

In 2015, the Modern Slavery Act received royal assent in England and Wales. It provides a framework to fight against both trafficking and modern slavery, bringing together new laws under one act for all types of exploitation.

From 1 November 2015, (updated 18th March 2016) specified public authorities have a duty to notify the Home Office of any individual encountered in England and Wales who they believe is a suspected victim of slavery or human trafficking.

Tamworth Borough Council is compliant with section 52 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and has a duty to notify the Secretary of State of suspected victims of slavery or human trafficking. A copy of the organisations ‘Modern Slavery Statement’ can be found on our website. 

Contact Us:

The Housing Solutions team are based at Tamworth Borough Council, they are available to give full advice on your housing needs and explain what options are available to you should you find yourself Homeless or threatened with homelessness.

Email: Housingsolutions@tamworth.gov.uk Tel: 01827 709709.

If you are homeless and the council offices are closed, then you can contact the homelessness out of hours service on 01827 709709 and choose option 1. You should only use this service if you have nowhere to stay immediately.

Please visit our website for further information relating to safeguarding and Tamworth Borough Council’s Modern Slavery Statement https://www.tamworth.gov.uk/safeguarding

Recognise it, Report it