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Modern Slavery is a horrendous crime with the victims, who can be amongst the most vulnerable people in society, often hidden in plain sight. Most people in the United Kingdom view slavery as something that happened a long time ago, or a crime that happens in countries far away. The truth is that modern slavery is happening here and now on our doorsteps in leafy Surrey and Sussex.
People across our community can help to combat modern slavery by looking out for people who could be modern day slaves in their area. Victims are often scared and could be malnourished, quiet, withdrawn, have no official documentation, or speak little or no English - though many are actually UK citizens.
You may find modern day slaves working in domestic servitude, fast food establishments, as agricultural workers, in nail bars and car washes - anywhere the pay is minimal and the individual has a low profile. You can find out more about spotting the signs of modern slavery on the Clewer Initiative website.
Modern day slavery affects people of all ages, with young people vulnerable to becoming involved in 'County Lines' where they are encouraged to move drugs into an area outside of where they live. This is another form of modern day slavery. The National Crime Agency website explains more:
"[Drug] dealers will frequently target children and adults - often with mental health or addiction problems - to act as drug runners or move cash so they can stay under the radar of law enforcement. In some cases the dealers will take over a local property, normally belonging to a vulnerable person, and use it to operate their criminal activity from. This is known as cuckooing."
"People exploited in this way will quite often be exposed to physical, mental and sexual abuse, and in some instances will be trafficked to areas a long way from home as part of the network's drug dealing business."
The South East of England is the second largest area for slavery crime in the UK after London. Catholic and Anglican Churches in Sussex and Surrey have formed an Ecumenical coalition called the 'Abolition Initiative' to help to raise awareness of this prevalent but often hidden criminal activity. A growing number of Anti-Slavery Ambassadors have been appointed as part if this project, with the aim of raising awareness in their local area across the year - particularly during Anti-Slavery Week. If you are interested in becoming an Ambassador please contact the diocese's Social Action Adviser Tessa Ricketts.
Together we can make a difference. If you learn about modern slavery, you can engage in the fight against this modern day scourge - we can abolish slavery in our lifetime. The following events are planned this October:
Monday 17 October 11am - 12.30pm - join the Abolition Initiative’s 'kick off' event for Anti-slavery Week at the Ropetackle Centre in Shoreham
The Abolition Initiative are also holding two 'Slavery on our Doorsteps' awareness evenings:
Monday 17 October at 7.45pm at St Dunstan’s Church, Shaftsbury Rd, Woking, Surrey.
Tuesday October 18 at 7.30pm at St Peter's Church, West St in Shoreham, West Sussex - to find out more please click here.
The Catholic Parish of Guildford is launching a Modern Slavery awareness programme, Parish Aware, at the end of October. To find out more please contact Nick Fox here.
If you see something that concerns you, please don't approach the possible victim directly. If the situation is an emergency dial 999. Otherwise, contact either your Local police on 101, Crime Stoppers T: 0800 555 111, or the Modern Slavery Helpline;
T: 0800 012 1700
