Crimestoppers
Fearless - Our Youth Service
We join Northamptonshire’s PCC to fight forced labour in the logistics sector
We have joined the Northamptonshire Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (OPFCC) to launch a new campaign, tackling the issue of modern slavery through forced labour in Northamptonshire’s logistics sector.
The logistics sector is the biggest industry in Northamptonshire and there is a possibility that there are trafficked people working within this sector who are being exploited by criminal gangs.
From January to August 2020, there were 58 reported cases of modern slavery and human trafficking in Northamptonshire. Fifteen of these were found to be in the labour market and a further 21 in slavery or servitude.
It is estimated that there are close to 100,000 people held in slavery in the UK, according to the Centre for Social Justice in July, which is much higher than previously believed. Between January to March this year, there were over 1,100 potential victims identified and referred to the Modern Slavery Helpline.
The eight-week campaign with the hashtag #StopLogisticsSectorSlavery will mainly be online. Other activities will include an e-newsletter being sent to all Northamptonshire logistics businesses and an Advan that will target key haulage stops. Half way through the campaign, artwork will be on the back of buses, to raise awareness and to promote how to contact Crimestoppers, to help encourage people to speak up and help to get victims safeguarded.
Modern slavery is an international crime, which affects millions of people around the world of all ages. Forced labour or labour exploitation is the most common form of modern slavery. Victims are controlled through force, threats, coercion, fraud, deception and abduction.
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.
Signs of forced labour, collectively or individually may include:
If a crime is in progress or someone is at imminent risk of harm, always call 999.
The logistics sector is the biggest industry in Northamptonshire and there is a possibility that there are trafficked people working within this sector who are being exploited by criminal gangs.
From January to August 2020, there were 58 reported cases of modern slavery and human trafficking in Northamptonshire. Fifteen of these were found to be in the labour market and a further 21 in slavery or servitude.
It is estimated that there are close to 100,000 people held in slavery in the UK, according to the Centre for Social Justice in July, which is much higher than previously believed. Between January to March this year, there were over 1,100 potential victims identified and referred to the Modern Slavery Helpline.
The eight-week campaign with the hashtag #StopLogisticsSectorSlavery will mainly be online. Other activities will include an e-newsletter being sent to all Northamptonshire logistics businesses and an Advan that will target key haulage stops. Half way through the campaign, artwork will be on the back of buses, to raise awareness and to promote how to contact Crimestoppers, to help encourage people to speak up and help to get victims safeguarded.
Modern slavery is an international crime, which affects millions of people around the world of all ages. Forced labour or labour exploitation is the most common form of modern slavery. Victims are controlled through force, threats, coercion, fraud, deception and abduction.
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.
Signs of forced labour, collectively or individually may include:
- Individuals being threatened or experiencing actual harm
- Movement seeming restricted or confined to a place of work
- Workers being unfamiliar with English, they may act as though they have been instructed, are distrustful, may show fear or anxiety, might scavenge for food or may resort to crime for food and/or money
- Debt bondage - tricked into working for little or no money to repay an endless cycle of debt
- Apparent withholding of wages or excessive wage reductions from another person or wages are paid into another person’s account. They may be charged for travel
- Workers who provide their own workwear dressing inappropriately for the task being performed. They may wear the same clothes everyday
- Workers may not interact with colleagues, lack basic training, skills or licences
- Passports being withheld or other identification documents
- Threats of being reported to authorities, where the worker is of illegal status
- The apparent controlling of a worker by another, who might bring them to work, try to speak for them or act as an intermediary
- Workers not knowing their work or home address, they could live in multiple occupied houses and often with those they work with. They may live in poor or substandard accommodation.
“As a charity, we are working closely with Northamptonshire’s OPFCC and the local police to raise awareness of forced labour, to help businesses and organisations identify the factors that may indicate that a member of their workforce is being exploited.
“Logistics industries such as agriculture, food processing and packaging, construction and manufacturing remain extremely vulnerable to labour exploitation. Seasonal or temporary workers are also particularly vulnerable to exploitative practices.
“Please keep your eyes open for any suspicious signs that forced labour is happening and pass on any information to Crimestoppers charity whilst staying 100% anonymous. Always. We want to stop this crime from happening and get support to those who need it.
“We value safe communities. In over 32 years we have always kept our promise of anonymity to everyone who contacts us. Call 0800 555 111 or use our anonymous online form. We cannot trace calls or get IP addresses. Not even we will know your identity when you contact us to pass on information.”
If a crime is in progress or someone is at imminent risk of harm, always call 999.
