Modern slavery and human trafficking

In this section:

Modern slavery is a serious crime. Victims are:

• exploited
• controlled or sometimes held captive
• threatened or punished to stop them escaping or reporting the crime

Threats and punishments can often be violent, but not always. They can include threatening to tell the authorities about the victim's immigration status to get them deported from the country.

Anyone can be a target for modern slavery, but some people can be at more risk because of:

• poverty
• social or health issues
• age
• immigration status

Types of modern slavery

There are four types of modern slavery:

• slavery
• domestic servitude
• forced labour
• human trafficking 

Slavery

Slavery is when the victim is ‘owned’ by their exploiter, who has control over everything they do. They have no chance to leave their situation or live their lives as they want.

Domestic servitude

This is similar to slavery but the work the victim is forced to do for their exploiter includes domestic tasks like:

• general chores
• cleaning
• cooking
• washing
• looking after children

The victim will be made to live on the exploiter’s property. They cannot change their circumstances because they might not have any money, a passport or a way of escaping.

The victim can be forced into domestic servitude by a partner, a relative or someone they live with who is not related to them.

Victims are always vulnerable in some way and can include:

• children
• British citizens
• non-British citizens from a range of countries, backgrounds and cultures
• domestic migrant workers (people who move countries or areas to do domestic work)
• people who have a visa that allows them to stay with their partner or spouse

The age range of adults affected goes from 18 to the mid-70s. 

Forced labour

Forced labour is any type of work, legal or illegal, a victim is forced to do against their will. 

Criminals might trick their victims by promising well-paid work and good accommodation in another place or country. But once they get there, they’re forced to work long hours for little or no pay and are made to live in poor conditions.

A victim may be working for the exploiters or for someone else.

It can still be modern slavery if the victim is kept in decent conditions but is forced to work.

Human trafficking

Human trafficking is when a trafficker organises someone’s travel into, out of, or within the UK. The trafficker wants to exploit the victim by forcing them to do work or other things they don't want to do, like commit crimes or work in the sex trade.

British citizens can be affected.

Traffickers often use violence, abuse or threats against victims. Sometimes they tell victims they’ll get a good job and a better life if they travel with them.

Once in the UK, or somewhere new in the UK, victims are exploited through control, threats or force.

Men, women and children of all ages, and from all backgrounds, can be victims of this crime.

People smuggling

People smuggling is not the same as human trafficking. People smuggling is when someone makes money out of bringing people into the UK illegally, often in small boats or hidden in vehicles.

If you think someone is involved in people smuggling, you can report it.