Modern Slavery
Slavery: something we occasionally see in the papers or on the news, something we read books or watch films about, but surely not something that’s happening in Essex?
Modern Slavery, also known as Human Trafficking, is the second most profitable form of organised crime in the world, worth over £32 billion. There are believed to be more than 21 million people subjected to slavery and servitude in the world at the moment. So much for its abolition.
In the UK in 2013 nearly 1800 victims of modern slavery were identified, most having been forced into manual labour or sexually exploited. This number is likely to be just the tip of the iceberg as the 1800 victims have been identified in a country where very few staff in frontline agencies know what signs to look out for, where to look or what to do with the victims they identify.
The most common countries of origin for victims are Albania, Nigeria, Vietnam, Romania and the United Kingdom. This is not an immigration problem, this is a crime being committed in the United Kingdom against foreign nationals and UK national alike. In the fullness of time we are likely to see more UK national victims than any other nationality; vulnerable people with complex needs, in terrible situations.
There is nothing about Essex that should make it immune from a crime threat that impacts on every other part of the world, so on the 7th March 2014 representatives from agencies and groups across Essex came together to learn more about the threat of modern slavery. The event was attended by 100 people with presentations given by the charity Stop the Traffik and Essex Police. The presentations were well received with many delegates finding they had seen some of the signs for trafficking in the past, but had not recognised them. 80% of those in attendance said that they wanted to do more, working with the Police and Safeguarding Boards in delivering training, education and improving awareness and by taking part in multi-agency discussions to develop a plan to equip agencies to respond to identified victims more effectively.
Slavery: something we occasionally see in the papers or on the news, something we read books or watch films about, but surely not something that’s happening in Essex?
Modern Slavery, also known as Human Trafficking, is the second most profitable form of organised crime in the world, worth over £32 billion. There are believed to be more than 21 million people subjected to slavery and servitude in the world at the moment. So much for its abolition.
In the UK in 2013 nearly 1800 victims of modern slavery were identified, most having been forced into manual labour or sexually exploited. This number is likely to be just the tip of the iceberg as the 1800 victims have been identified in a country where very few staff in frontline agencies know what signs to look out for, where to look or what to do with the victims they identify.
The most common countries of origin for victims are Albania, Nigeria, Vietnam, Romania and the United Kingdom. This is not an immigration problem, this is a crime being committed in the United Kingdom against foreign nationals and UK national alike. In the fullness of time we are likely to see more UK national victims than any other nationality; vulnerable people with complex needs, in terrible situations.
There is nothing about Essex that should make it immune from a crime threat that impacts on every other part of the world, so on the 7th March 2014 representatives from agencies and groups across Essex came together to learn more about the threat of modern slavery. The event was attended by 100 people with presentations given by the charity Stop the Traffik and Essex Police. The presentations were well received with many delegates finding they had seen some of the signs for trafficking in the past, but had not recognised them. 80% of those in attendance said that they wanted to do more, working with the Police and Safeguarding Boards in delivering training, education and improving awareness and by taking part in multi-agency discussions to develop a plan to equip agencies to respond to identified victims more effectively.
Six people were identified as victims of modern slavery in Essex in 2013. There are more victims out there. We need to be able to recognise, rescue and rehabilitate victims and to identify, investigate and incarcerate suspects. Working together we can make this happen.
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