What is Modern Slavery?
Modern Slavery is a serious crime. It encompasses slavery, servitude, and forced or compulsory labour and human trafficking.
Modern Slavery victims can often face more than one type of abuse and slavery, for example if they are sold to another trafficker and then forced into another form of exploitation:
- sexual exploitation
- domestic servitude
- forced labour
- criminal exploitation
- other forms of exploitation include organ removal, forced begging, forced benefit fraud, forced marriage and illegal adoption.
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the Act) was published in March 2015 in response to growing concerns about the treatment of individuals and groups of people whose human rights are being abused through trafficking, enforced labour and servitude.
If you are identified as a victim of slavery, then you will be entitled to:
- help and protection from the UK Government (this is called the National Referral Mechanism), all support is provided on a confidential basis
- support if you decide to talk to the police.
Where to get support
The Royal Borough of Greenwich can provide support. Email us on modern-slavery@royalgreenwich.gov.uk
The Salvation Army provides specialist support for all adult victims of modern slavery in England and Wales. Call their confidential referral helpline on 0800 808 3733, available 24/7.
The Home Office provides advice and guidance on how to identify and support victims.
Read a leaflet on support for victims of Modern Slavery in a variety of languages from the home office.
The police offer advice and support which can accessed here. Always call 999 if there is an immediate threat.
To report a suspicion or seek advice you can contact the Modern Slavery Helpline confidentially on 08000 121 700. This is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.