Local authorities ask public to watch for signs of exploitation as research suggests gaps in reporting across some areas

Local authorities are calling on members of the public to be alert to signs of modern-day slavery, as research suggests worrying gaps in reporting across Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Lancashire.

The number of people referred to the government’s national referral mechanism (NRM), which identifies and supports victims, increased dramatically last summer. Between July and September 2017, 1,322 potential victims were referred, up 47% compared with the same period in 2016.

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But the National Crime Agency estimated that the number of victims was far greater, with tens of thousands of people living in conditions of slavery in the UK. Simon Blackburn, a councillor and chair of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) safer and stronger communities board, warned that residents may be “unwittingly using victims of modern slavery to wash their cars, paint their nails or lay their drives”.

Quick guide Modern slavery Show Hide What is modern slavery? About 150 years after most countries banned slavery – Brazil was the last to abolish its participation in the transatlantic slave trade, in 1888 – millions of men, women and children are still enslaved. Contemporary slavery takes many forms, from women forced into prostitution, to child slavery in agriculture supply chains or whole families working for nothing to pay off generational debts. Slavery thrives on every continent and in almost every country. Forced labour, people trafficking, debt bondage and child marriage are all forms of modern-day slavery that affect the world's most vulnerable people.

How many people are enslaved across the world? The UN's International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that about 21 million people are in forced labour at any point in time. The ILO says this estimate includes trafficking and other forms of modern slavery. They calculate that 90% of the 21 million are exploited by individuals or companies, while 10% are forced to work by the state, rebel military groups, or in prisons under conditions that violate ILO standards. Sexual exploitation accounts for 22% of slaves. Where does slavery exist? Slavery exists in one form or another in every country. Asia accounts for more than half of the ILO's 21 million estimate. In terms of percentage of population, central and south-east Europe has the highest prevalence of forced labour, followed by Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Who is profiting? In 2005, the ILO estimated that illegal profits from forced labour amounted to more than $44bn. The UN's global initiative to fight trafficking says people trafficking is the third-largest global criminal industry (pdf) behind drugs and arms trafficking. The ILO estimates that people in forced labour lose at least $21bn each year in unpaid wages and recruitment fees. Slavery also exists within global supply chains, generating huge profits for those who control this industry in free labour.

According to research released on Wednesday, under-reporting is a major concern in areas such as Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lancashire, Dyfed-Powys and Norfolk. The study predicts areas are likely to have higher rates of modern slavery if they have an above average number of people who are foreign born or who do not have qualifications.

The research, by global risk analysts Verisk Maplecroft, used demographic data to predict the rates of slavery across 42 UK police force areas, and compared this with UK National Crime Agency victim data from 2015-16 and 2016-17.

Based on demographics, the report estimated that Leicestershire should be among the 10 most vulnerable areas. But according to government victim data, it has one of the lowest prevalence rates for slavery.



“The extensive reports of exploitative labour conditions in Leicester’s garment factories, published by the media, Leicester University and the UK parliament’s human rights committee, suggest the idea of a reporting gap for Leicestershire is not unreasonable,” the report said. “More investigation of these areas could therefore lead to the discovery of more potential victims.”



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In 2015, a damning report revealed endemic exploitation inside the East Midlands garment industry. According to researchers at the University of Leicester, up to 90% of those working in the sector were paid £3 an hour – less than half the legal minimum wage.

Verisk Maplecroft’s report ranked England’s largest cities as most susceptible to modern slavery. London, Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford and Manchester are all located in the five most vulnerable police force areas.

The five areas ranked least vulnerable were Cumbria, Devon and Cornwall, Gloucestershire, North Yorkshire and Sussex. Such areas are more rural, perform better for education and have a lower proportion of foreign-born residents.



The report’s authors added that while major cities had higher rates of modern slavery, there were also frequent reports in the agricultural sector, on cannabis farms and in coastal port towns.

It was also reported this week that “slave workers” from eastern Europe were being used to collect donated clothes from households on behalf of charities. The Times said men were arrested in Newcastle and Gateshead after an investigation into a suspected Lithuanian organised crime group. A dozen people were rescued from alleged slavery.

The LGA, which represents 370 councils and all fire and rescue authorities in England and Wales, said the public should look out for warning signs, such as large numbers of people being transported to properties in vans, early in the morning or late at night.



“Members of the public are our first line of defence when it comes to tackling this scourge, and we urge all our residents to be aware of the tell-tale warning signs of modern slavery, and report any concerns to police or their local authority,” said Blackburn.

Other signs thought to indicate modern slavery include people who look as if they are being instructed or coached by somebody else, or who do not appear free to leave or move around their surroundings. Victims may appear deprived of food, water, medical care or sleep, or look to be in a situation of dependence.

Kevin Hyland, the independent anti-slavery commissioner, said he had personally witnessed the impact of a member of the public reporting their suspicions to a local authority.



“Police raided a carwash within weeks of the tipoff, identifying 12 potential victims of modern slavery in the process and arresting an individual on human trafficking offences,” he said. “The trigger was one individual noticing the ill-health of those manning the carwash.”