What is Modern Slavery?

Modern Slavery is where someone controls another for profit by exploiting their vulnerability. The victim can be coerced or forced by the perpetrator physically (including sexually), financially, and/or psychologically.

Victims can be tricked or forced into exploitation through violence, fear, fraud or coercion.

Types of exploitation include:

• Factories and farm work
• Restaurants
• Domestic service and hospitality
• Construction industry
• Hand car washes
• Nail bars
• Prostitution
• Drug running (County Lines)

What is Human Trafficking?

Human Trafficking is the movement of people for exploitative means, such as through force, fraud, coercion, abduction, or deception.

For the purpose of exploitation, this includes:

• Slavery (where ownership is exercised over a person)
• Forced or compulsory labour (involves work or service extracted from any person under the threat of a penalty and for which the person has not offered themselves voluntarily)
• Servitude (involves the obligation to provide services imposed by coercion)
• Organ harvesting (removal of organs)
• Prostitution
• Other sexual exploitation (forced to work in the sex industry. Child sexual exploitation is a type of sexual abuse)

Spot the signs

It’s important that people are aware of how to spot the signs of someone who is being exploited.

Victims may:

• Look malnourished or unkempt
• Be withdrawn and unwilling to interact
• Live in cramped, dirty, overcrowded accommodation
• Have no identity documents
• Appear scared, avoid eye contact, and be untrusting
• Show signs of abuse and/or have health issues.

As a local Authority we can refer cases to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) - To identify and refer potential victims of modern slavery into support where appropriate. 

How do I report Modern Slavery and get support?

Call the Police on 999 if in immediate danger or call 101 for non-emergencies.

Report using the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700.

Contact the Salvation Army referral helpline 0300 303 8151

Contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Contact Unseen UK.

Find out more

Information from Suffolk Constabulary.