Fighting forced labour in Leicestershire’s Garment Sector

We’ve launched a campaign raising awareness of the issue of forced labour and the exploitation of vulnerable people in the Garment Sector in Leicestershire – and how you can tell us what you know, 100% anonymously.

As an independent charity, we’re working in partnership with Leicestershire Police, Leicestershire Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Leicester City Council, Gangmasters & Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) and De Montfort University, to help you spot the signs of forced labour, and give information.

Your information could help free victims from danger and ensure they receive the support they desperately need from specialist agencies, as well as help bring those behind this heinous crime to justice.



 

Report forced labour 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or click here. The only person who will know you got in touch with us is you.

Modern slavery is a global problem and an international crime, affecting millions of people of all ages, including many victims in the UK. A recent report* showed that forced labour, or labour exploitation, is the most common type of modern slavery in the UK. Victims are often controlled by force, threats, coercion, abduction, fraud and deception.
 
Forced labour is sometimes hidden, but often people are exploited in plain sight. Victims come from a variety of backgrounds; they may be UK citizens, EU migrants or from outside the EU altogether.
 
* Quarter 2, April – June 2020, Statistical Summary from Unseen
 
The following elements, individually or collectively, can indicate forced labour:
 

• Signs of physical harm or threats of such.
• Apparent restriction of movement and confinement to a particular place or to a limited area outside the work place.
• Debt-bondage – Tricked into working for little or no money to repay an endless cycle of debt to another person outside of their employment.
• Paid far less than the national minimum wage, or the apparent withholding of wages, or excessive wage reductions from another person outside of their employment.
• Workers potentially providing their own work wear which is inappropriate for the task being performed.
• Retention of passports and / or identification documents by someone outside of their employment. This means workers are unable to leave or prove their identity status.
• Threat of denunciation to the authorities where the worker is of illegal status.
• The apparent control of a worker by another person who might bring them to work and / or try to speak for them and / or act as an intermediary.

The Garment Sector is one of the biggest industries in Leicestershire, and there is the possibility that there are trafficked people working within this sector who are being exploited by the people who have secured their employment.
 
Crimestoppers and partners are working hard to raise awareness of forced labour and help identify the factors that may indicate that a member of the Garment Sector workforce, someone you may live near or work with, is being exploited.
 
We're encouraging you to look out for these potential signs that modern slavery is happening:
 

• Restricted freedom. Shows signs that their movements are being controlled or they are unable to move freely, dependant on people for transport and accommodation, travels only with other workers, does not communicate freely, given leftovers to eat, looks to suffer violence.
• Behaviour. Unfamiliar with English, acts as though they have been instructed, distrustful, limited or no social interaction, shows fear or anxiety, scavenges for food or resorts to crime for food and/or money.
• Working conditions. Does not interact with colleagues, lacks basic training, skills or licences. Works very long hours and may be moved from one work base to another to perform other duties. Very few breaks.
• Accommodation. Does not know their work or home address, lives in multiple occupied houses and often with those they work with, lives in poor or substandard accommodation.
• Finances. No access to their earnings, has large debts, no access to bank cards or documents, wages paid into a different person’s account, charged for transport to work.
• Appearance. Suffers with regular injuries, has injuries that appear old or cannot be explained, wears the same clothes every day.

If you have any concerns about someone you know, or an employee in your organisation, contact us free on 0800 555 111, or fill in our quick, easy and 100% secure online form, here on our website, to give information 100% anonymously about forced labour - and any other crime you have information about.
 

English not your first language?

If you don't speak English, or if English is not your first language, you can still give us information anonymously using a translation service. When you call us on 0800 555 111, your call will be answered by someone who speaks English and you will need to tell them which language you speak.
 
Or you can fill in our online form here on our website in Bengali, Gujarati, Lithuanian, Polish, Romanian or Welsh.
 

Join us in our fight against modern slavery, encourage and empower your friends and colleagues to report any information on crime - and make your community a safer place to live and work in.

What to do if you are a victim of modern slavery

Due to our anonymity guarantee, we can't take information from victims of crime. If you think you or someone you have come across may be a victim of modern slavery and in need of help, you can contact The Salvation Army, who provide specialist support to adult victims of slavery, by calling their free 24-hour confidential helpline on 0800 808 3733.

The UK Modern Slavery Helpline is available 24/7 to offer confidential advice and support for any victim, statutory agency, business, or member of the public regarding modern slavery suspicions or concerns. Trained Helpline Advisers are available to discuss potential signs of modern slavery and options for callers or victims in need. Call free on 08000 121 700.

Related links

If you have any information about the mistreatment of workers, or labour providers operating without a licence or a business, you can contact the Gangmasters & Labour Abuse Authority  - call 0800 432 0804.

Read more here on our website about modern slavery and how it relates to other crimes, such as human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

If you would like to help with our campaign and share it with others, click or tap below to download our print-ready A5 leaflet in a variety of languages.