Indicators of modern slavery
Signs of various types of slavery and exploitation are often hidden, making it hard to recognise potential victims. There is no typical victim of modern slavery. Victims can be any age, gender or ethnicity or nationality. Some victims don’t understand they’re being exploited and many don’t speak English. Whilst by no means exhaustive, this is a list of some common signs.
- Poor physical appearance: Victims may show signs of physical or psychological abuse, look malnourished or unkempt, or appear withdrawn and neglected. They may have untreated injuries.
- 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, or living and working at the same address.
- Few or no belongings: Victims may have no identification documents, have few personal possessions and always wear the same clothes day in, day out.
- Restricted freedom of movement: Victims may have little opportunity to move freely and may have had their travel documents retained, such as passports.
- Unusual travel times: Victims may be dropped off or collected for work on a regular basis either very early or late at night.
- Reluctance 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. They may be accompanied by someone else who speaks for them.
- Grooming: Children may not always demonstrate outward signs of distress and may have a 'bond' with those exploiting them and have been groomed to not disclose their abuse – however, they are likely to be very scared and traumatised.
- Does the person have old or serious untreated injuries? Have they delayed seeing a healthcare professional, and are they vague, reluctant or inconsistent in explaining how the injury occurred?
- Are there suddenly large groups of people visiting a home address? There may be a rise in anti-social behaviour. Is access to rooms in the property restricted or are doors locked?
- Is the property overcrowded and badly cared for? Are the curtains always drawn? Is there any sign that electricity may have been tacked on from neighbouring properties or directly from power lines?
- Is the person withdrawn or appear frightened, unable to answer questions directed at them or speak for themselves and/or an accompanying third party speaks for them? If they do speak, are they inconsistent in the information they provide, including basic facts such as the address where they live? Do they appear under the control/influence of others, rarely interact or appear unfamiliar with their neighbourhood or where they work?
- Are workers wearing inappropriate clothing for their job? Do workers seem to have noticeably poor personal hygiene, fearful or unwilling to engage with the public?
Five questions
The Willow Project has identified five questions which may help to identify someone who is a victim of modern slavery: Safer Slough Partnership - modern slavery reporting guidelines.
Signs specific to child victims
- Is the child being cared for by an adult that is not their parent or legal guardian and is the quality of the relationship between the child and their adult carer poor and a reason for concern? Some children may not be attending school or registered with a GP.
- Are there a number of unrelated children found at one address? Does the child move location frequently?
- Children who come into contact with authorities often disappear and are re-trafficked.
- Children may not always demonstrate outward signs of distress and may have a ‘bond’ with those exploiting them and have been groomed to not disclose their abuse – however, they are likely to be very scared and traumatised.