A joint awareness campaign from the Staffordshire Commissioner’s Office and Staffordshire Police aims to encourage people to look out for the signs of modern slavery and report any suspicions they may have.
‘Modern slavery’ is an umbrella term for when one person forces another to work, which can be through mental or physical threat; being owned or controlled by an ‘employer’, usually through mental or physical abuse or the threat of abuse; being dehumanised, treated as a commodity or bought and sold as ‘property’; or being physically constrained or having restrictions placed on their freedom.
Modern slavery is often a hidden crime, and there is no typical victim. They can be men, women and children of all ages, and can be found in settings such as hotels, care homes, farming, car washes, nail bars and private homes.
The campaign uses a video, social media activity and posters to raise awareness of modern slavery and the signs to look out for that someone is a victim. Not all of these signs will be apparent in every case, but they could include:
- Being scared and withdrawn
- Lacking in confidence
- Unexplained injuries
- Having no access to passport or documents
- Having limited contact with their family, or the outside world
- Not knowing their home or work address
- Being distrustful of the authorities
- Having poor hygiene and an unkempt appearance
- Showing signs their movements are being controlled
- Allowing others to speak for them when addressed directly
Ben Adams, Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire and Rescue and Crime, said: ‘Modern slavery is an unseen crime, and it’s happening here in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
‘It can be hiding in any business, which is why this campaign is so important to alert people to what might be taking place in their community, and encourage them to report any concerns.’
Detective Chief Inspector Ash Farrington, the force lead for Modern Slavery, said: ‘I very much welcome the campaign to raise awareness of this issue.
‘We take this very seriously and have increased our pro-active capability to deal with the exploitation of people, so please if you do have information then get in touch with us.’
To report modern slavery, call Staffordshire Police on 101, or in the case of an emergency call 999. Alternatively, call the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700.
For more information, visit the Modern Slavery Helpline website.
