Operation Aidant tackles Modern Day Slavery

During the last two weeks, Rural Neighbourhood Policing Teams have been taking action in the continuing fight against Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.

PCs and PCSOs have visited farms and factories linked to the agriculture industry, checking for any criminal exploitation and supporting local businesses with information and raising awareness.

Officers in the Cotswolds visited 15 farms across the two weeks, checking on workers and offering advice to the owners as to how they identify and report Modern Day Slavery.

Operation Aidant is co-ordinated by the National Crime Agency (NCA). It is run nationally every year and involves local police forces working alongside partner agencies to tackle Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.

The aim of the operation is to protect vulnerable workers, engage with businesses and gather information and intelligence to be used in future operations.

Human Trafficking is a type of Modern Slavery and is defined as when individuals are moved, either internationally or domestically, so they can be exploited. Victims of Modern Slavery are viewed as a commodity to be traded or exploited over and over again. This may be for use in criminal purposes, forced labour, domestic servitude or for sexual exploitation.

Cases of modern slavery have been found all across the country, at car washes, construction sites, in agricultural industries and in food processing. Victims are paid little and forced to put up with poor living and working conditions.

Chief Inspector Richard Pegler said: "We know there are many men, women and children who are suffering at the hands of criminal exploitation.

"These victims are being forced into situations where they work for next to no pay, and in some cases have key documents taken from them, such as driving licence and passport. They are effectively sold a dream and then held to ransom.

"The nature of these crimes means that victims are hidden and controlled, so it can be hard to spot or recognise. Language can be an issue, as can trust of authority, so people don’t always speak up or seek the help they need.

"Gloucestershire Constabulary is committed to tackling this type of crime and we are determined to safeguard those who fall victim at the hands of criminals. However, we need the information from the public in order to help us identify evidence of Modern Slavery."

How to recognise the signs of modern slavery

Whilst slavery can be hard to identify, there are some indicative signs you can be aware of:

• PHYSICAL APPEARANCE – Victims may show signs of physical or psychological abuse, look malnourished or unkempt, or appear withdrawn
• ISOLATION – Victims may rarely be allowed to travel on their own, seem under the control, influence of others, rarely interact or appear unfamiliar with their neighbourhood or where they work
• POOR LIVING CONDITIONS – Victims may be living in dirty, cramped or overcrowded accommodation, and/or living and working at the same address
• FEW OR NO PERSONAL EFFECTS – Victims may have no identification documents, have few personal possessions and always wear the same clothes day in day out. What clothes they do wear may not be suitable for their work
• RESTRICTED FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT – Victims have little opportunity to move freely and may have had their travel documents retained, e.g. passports
• UNUSUAL TRAVEL TIMES – They may be dropped off/collected for work on a regular basis either very early or late at night
• RELUCTANT TO SEEK HELP – Victims may avoid eye contact, appear frightened or hesitant to talk to strangers and fear law enforcers for many reasons, such as not knowing who to trust or where to get help, fear of deportation, fear of violence to them or their family.

If you see something, say something and together we can break the cycle of exploitation.

More details can be found in the leaflet produced by Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority: www.gla.gov.uk/media/5714/spot-the-signs-glaa.pdf.

If you suspect of any incidents of exploitation, you should call police on 101 or through www.gla.gov.uk.