What is Modern Slavery?
Modern slavery is a complex crime and a violation of fundamental human rights, encompassing slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour, human trafficking and exploitation. It affects thousands of people across the UK, with numbers increasing year on year.
Legal Definition
“(a) the person holds another person in slavery or servitude and the circumstances are such that the person knows or ought to know that the other person is held in slavery or servitude, or
(b) the person requires another person to perform forced or compulsory labour and the circumstances are such that the person knows or ought to know that the other person is being required to perform forced or compulsory labour.”
Modern Slavery Act 2015
Modern slavery is a global crime, with victims and offenders often moving between source, transit and destination countries.
A high number of victims within the UK are UK nationals, including children.
Quick Definitions
What is Modern Slavery?
Modern Slavery is when a person is controlled and exploited for the benefit of others, losing their freedom through deception, threats, or force. It is an umbrella term for human trafficking and encompasses many forms of abuse, including forced or compulsory labour, domestic servitude, criminal exploitation, sexual exploitation, forced criminality and organ harvesting (removal of organs).
Many assume modern slavery only happens in other countries or involves people being smuggled. But it’s happening across the UK, in big cities, small towns, and rural communities. Victims come from all walks of life—men, women, children, UK nationals, and people from abroad. Modern slavery can affect anyone, although there are several factors which could make a person more at risk. There is no one perpetrator of modern slavery, but we know those who exploit others abuse a position of power or trust.
The UK Modern Slavery Act (2015) consolidated existing offences and provided new legal definitions for:
- Slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour.
- Human Trafficking.
- Meaning of Exploitation.
What is Human Trafficking?
Human trafficking is considered a form of modern slavery, and as such, the two terms are often interchangeable; however, the element of movement makes it distinct.
Human trafficking consists of:
- The “Act” – what actions are taken: recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring and receiving of victims(s).
- The “Means” – how it’s done: including but not limited to, threats or use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power, abuse of a position of vulnerability, and/or giving or receiving payments or benefits to achieve consent of a person having control over another person. For child victims, there does not need to be a “means”.
- The “Purpose” – why it’s done: refers to the type of exploitation which takes place.
The term ‘people smuggling’ is often used to describe human trafficking. They both involve the movement of people, but there are three crucial differences.
Human Trafficking | Smuggling | |
Location | Can happen across international borders, or within one country. It can involve movement between cities, towns, rural locations, or even from one street to the next. | Crosses international borders. |
Consent | Involves either forcing a person to travel, or deceiving a person into taking on a journey under false promises of jobs, payment or safety at the end of that journey | A service a person asks for. It might be dangerous, but that person chooses to take on the journey. |
Exploitation | Uses threat, force, coercion or deception against a person for the purpose of exploitation. A trafficked person can be exploited at the final destination and/or during the journey. | Limited to one financial transaction in exchange for illegal entry to a country. Once the payment and border crossing is complete, the exchange ends, and the person is free to make other choices |
Smuggling or Trafficking: Knowing the Difference | STOP THE TRAFFIK
What are the Forms of Exploitation?
Modern slavery takes many different forms. Understanding these different types can help identify and support victims.
Labour Exploitation
Victims are forced or coerced to work for little or no pay, often under threat of punishment and in poor conditions. Common in agriculture, construction, cleaning, hospitality, factories and manufacturing.
Sexual Exploitation
Adults and children who are deceived, coerced or forced to perform sexual acts / take part in sexual services for money that is then taken by exploiters; this includes sexual abuse, forced prostitution and forms of child sexual exploitation. Victims may be deprived of their freedom of movement and subjected to threats and violence. Sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.
Places where someone could be sexually exploited include, but not limited to:
- Prostitution
- Brothels – massage/sauna
- Escort agencies
- Pole/lap dancing
- Forced marriage
- Stripping on a web cam
- Phone sex lines
- Internet chat rooms
- Pornography
- Mail order brides
- Sex tourism
(Stop The Traffik) (The Snowdrop Project)
Criminal Exploitation (sometimes referred to as Child Criminal Exploitation or CCE)
Forcing or coercing a person(s) to engage in criminal activity for the benefit of another e.g. cannabis farming, forced marriage, begging, pickpocketing, bag snatching, ATM theft, selling of counterfeit foods, County Lines.
‘County Lines’ is the exploitation of children, typically for the purpose of drug sale and distribution. Children can be coerced with gifts, money or perceived status, or they can be threatened with violence or blackmailed. (Stop The Traffik)
Slavery, Servitude, Forced or Compulsory Labour
These activities are defined in the Modern Slavery Act and refer to when a person or group holds another person(s) in slavery or servitude, or requires them to perform forced or compulsory labour.
- Domestic Servitude
Forced work undertaken in another person’s house or family / private household, carrying out tasks such as childcare and housekeeping. Victims typically live in their ‘employers’ household’. The person(s) freedom of movement is often restricted, and they are often expected to work any time of the day or night. The person is either not paid or paid very little.
- Forced or Compulsory Labour
All work or service which is exacted from any person(s) by another person(s), often against their will or where they have not offered themselves voluntarily, and commonly under threat of punishment to themselves or their family.
Victims work for offenders directly or for others. Wages are either withheld or ‘taxed’ for a debt or ‘living expenses’ controlled by the offender. Some common sectors and industries that are identified as vulnerable include, but not limited to, third-party recruitment, such as factory lines, supply chains, hand car washes, nail bars, the construction industry, hospitality, farm work, recycling plants, and care work.
Organ Harvesting
The removal of parts of the body, commonly the kidneys or a lobe of the liver, and sold. Whilst this is rare in the UK, it can still happen.
Spot the Signs
There is no one typical victim of modern slavery, but there are some general indicators which may suggest a person is being exploited.
- Physical appearance - signs of physical or psychological abuse, looking malnourished or unkempt
- Poor living conditions - living in dirty, cramped or overcrowded accommodation
- Unusual travel times - transported to and from work, or lives and works at the same address
- Isolation - rarely allowed to travel alone, seems to be under the control of others
- Restricted freedom - has no identification documents, has few personal possessions
- Reluctant to seek help - avoids eye contact, appears frightened or hesitant to talk to strangers
- Labour Exploitation
- No protective equipment or suitable clothing
- Long working hours with no or few breaks
- Lack of basic training or work permits
- Under control of others and rarely interacts with colleagues
- Sexual Exploitation
- Movement between brothels or working in multiple locations
- Living where they work
- Transport arranged by others
- Limited English mainly related to sexual services
- Criminal Exploitation
- Child or vulnerable adult carrying or selling drugs
- Large numbers of children or vulnerable adults at address
- Excessive control from a third party
- Children with unexplained money, goods, or phone credit
National Referral Mechanism (NRM) & Duty to Notify
Understanding the difference between NRM referrals and Duty to Notify (DtN), and who can make these referrals.
- Children (Under 18)
- Complete an NRM form - children cannot be referred using a DtN referral
- Child victims do not have to consent to be referred into the NRM
- Must first be safeguarded via a referral to Durham or Darlington local authority
- The local authority will receive a notification once you complete it
- Adults (18 and over)
- If the victim is happy to be identified, complete an NRM form
- If the victim would like to remain anonymous, complete a DtN form
- Adult victims must give informed consent to enter the NRM process
- The DtN process allows for anonymous reporting in line with the legal duty under the Modern Slavery Act 2015
Who Can Make NRM Referrals?
Only First Responders, as defined in the Modern Slavery Act 2015, can complete and submit a NRM on behalf of a victim of modern slavery. First Responder Organisations are designated workplaces that can help identify and support potential victims of modern slavery.
First Responder Organisations
- Police forces
- Immigration Enforcement
- Gang-masters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA)
- Medaille Trust
- Unseen
- New Pathways
- UK Visas and Immigration
- National Crime Agency
- Salvation Army
- Kalayaan
- NSPCC (CTAC)
- Refugee Council
- Border Force
- Local authorities
- Migrant Help
- Barnardo's
- BAWSO
- Emergency Contacts
If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, use these emergency contact numbers.
- Emergency Services
If you or someone you know are in immediate danger
999
- Modern Slavery Helpline
Report suspected cases of modern slavery
08000 121 700
- The Salvation Army Helpline
24/7 confidential support
0800 808 3733
- Additional Emergency Information