Source: The Guardian
Hundreds of men and women are trafficked into Britain for the profit of their bosses, according to a government report
Helen Grant, the newly appointed victims minister. Photograph: Martin Argles for the Guardian
Mike used to pride himself on his health, running double
marathons and working as a personal trainer, but now
he looked painfully thin and nervous. Sat in the bright
living room of a safehouse where he lived for three
months, he described having to retrain himself to eat
properly after being kept in squalid conditions and
forced to work unpaid for three years. He was, he
said, a modern-day slave.
marathons and working as a personal trainer, but now
he looked painfully thin and nervous. Sat in the bright
living room of a safehouse where he lived for three
months, he described having to retrain himself to eat
properly after being kept in squalid conditions and
forced to work unpaid for three years. He was, he
said, a modern-day slave.
"Before this happened I never even thought it could
happen in this country, or that it could happen to
men," he said. "But if you are desperate enough,
anyone could find themselves in this trap."
happen in this country, or that it could happen to
men," he said. "But if you are desperate enough,
anyone could find themselves in this trap."
Mike is one of hundreds of men and women who
are trafficked into Britain for the profit of their
unscrupulous bosses, according to a government
report. Estimates released on anti-slavery day
suggest the number of people being trafficked
into and around the UK is rising, with 946
victims in contact with authorities last year,
compared with 710 in 2010.
are trafficked into Britain for the profit of their
unscrupulous bosses, according to a government
report. Estimates released on anti-slavery day
suggest the number of people being trafficked
into and around the UK is rising, with 946
victims in contact with authorities last year,
compared with 710 in 2010.
The report by the inter-departmental ministerial
group on human trafficking states that trafficking
gangs in China, Vietnam, Nigeria and eastern
Europe now pose the biggest threat. But it is
not just a foreign national problem, said Helen
Grant, the newly appointed victims minister. "This
exploitation of vulnerable people by predatory
gangs is not something that any civilised society
should be prepared to accept," she said. "It is
happening to men, women and children, to foreign
nationals and to British citizens."
group on human trafficking states that trafficking
gangs in China, Vietnam, Nigeria and eastern
Europe now pose the biggest threat. But it is
not just a foreign national problem, said Helen
Grant, the newly appointed victims minister. "This
exploitation of vulnerable people by predatory
gangs is not something that any civilised society
should be prepared to accept," she said. "It is
happening to men, women and children, to foreign
nationals and to British citizens."
Perched on the edge of a bed in a safehouse for
trafficking victims in the south-east that the Guardian
had been given access to, Grant said it was difficult
to know whether there had been an increase in
trafficking or just in the reporting of the crime, but
she believed the crime affected many more people
than the official numbers suggested. "Trafficking
has been a forgotten issue that has happened
behind closed doors, but now I think we are
starting to see the true extent of it," she said.
"I certainly think the problem is greater than
we are seeing."
trafficking victims in the south-east that the Guardian
had been given access to, Grant said it was difficult
to know whether there had been an increase in
trafficking or just in the reporting of the crime, but
she believed the crime affected many more people
than the official numbers suggested. "Trafficking
has been a forgotten issue that has happened
behind closed doors, but now I think we are
starting to see the true extent of it," she said.
"I certainly think the problem is greater than
we are seeing."
Grant worked as a solicitor supporting victims of
domestic violence before becoming a Conservative
MP. "In the past there was a refusal to accept that
domestic violence happened, and thank goodness
we have come along from that, but we have to realise
that human trafficking for manual labour, sexual
exploitation or the harvesting of organs exists,"
she said.
domestic violence before becoming a Conservative
MP. "In the past there was a refusal to accept that
domestic violence happened, and thank goodness
we have come along from that, but we have to realise
that human trafficking for manual labour, sexual
exploitation or the harvesting of organs exists,"
she said.
The report details two cases of people trafficked
for illegal organ harvesting, which were stopped
before any operation was carried out. A report
from the Salvation Army released on Thursday
said that of the 378 individuals it helped in
2011/12, 44% were trafficked for labour
exploitation, 42% for sexual exploitation and one
for the purposes of organ removal.
for illegal organ harvesting, which were stopped
before any operation was carried out. A report
from the Salvation Army released on Thursday
said that of the 378 individuals it helped in
2011/12, 44% were trafficked for labour
exploitation, 42% for sexual exploitation and one
for the purposes of organ removal.
According to the government study, 712 adult
victims and 234 child victims were reported
last year to the national referral mechanism,
the body that identifies trafficking victims.
Campaigners suggest the true figures could
be significantly higher as many victims feared
being deported if they tried to escape their
situation.
victims and 234 child victims were reported
last year to the national referral mechanism,
the body that identifies trafficking victims.
Campaigners suggest the true figures could
be significantly higher as many victims feared
being deported if they tried to escape their
situation.
Aidan McQuade, director of Anti-Slavery International,
accused the government of a series of policy failings
that he said could lead to an increase in trafficking,
including the removal of the right for migrant domestic
workers to change employers and the failure to
extend to remit of the gangmasters licensing authority.
accused the government of a series of policy failings
that he said could lead to an increase in trafficking,
including the removal of the right for migrant domestic
workers to change employers and the failure to
extend to remit of the gangmasters licensing authority.
"The fact that this issue continues to be seen through
the prism of immigration means the decision on whether
to protect a trafficked person is based more on their
nationality rather than their right under the law to receive
support," he said. "It seems clear that until the government appoints a trafficking commissioner to co-ordinate its
anti-trafficking obligations we will continue to see policy
impeded by politics."
the prism of immigration means the decision on whether
to protect a trafficked person is based more on their
nationality rather than their right under the law to receive
support," he said. "It seems clear that until the government appoints a trafficking commissioner to co-ordinate its
anti-trafficking obligations we will continue to see policy
impeded by politics."
According to the report, Nigerians were the largest
group of potential trafficking victims, and Romanians
the biggest group in Europe. It estimates there were
92 organised crime groups in the UK with known
involvement in human trafficking, and 142
defendants were charged with offences related to
human trafficking in 2011-12. It states that thousands
of frontline workers including doctors, police, border
staff and airline workers have been trained to
better identify victims of trafficking in the past two
years.
group of potential trafficking victims, and Romanians
the biggest group in Europe. It estimates there were
92 organised crime groups in the UK with known
involvement in human trafficking, and 142
defendants were charged with offences related to
human trafficking in 2011-12. It states that thousands
of frontline workers including doctors, police, border
staff and airline workers have been trained to
better identify victims of trafficking in the past two
years.
At the safehouse, Mike described how he had been
coerced into slavery after losing his job and becoming
homeless. After sleeping rough on a beach for two
weeks, a man approached him as he was making
his way to a train station, offering him accommodation
and work in exchange for £20. His accommodation
was a filthy hut on a caravan site to be shared with
another man; his payment between £5-10 a week
for hard labour doing ground work seven days a
week. "I was just one of their tools, just a way to
make them money," he said.
coerced into slavery after losing his job and becoming
homeless. After sleeping rough on a beach for two
weeks, a man approached him as he was making
his way to a train station, offering him accommodation
and work in exchange for £20. His accommodation
was a filthy hut on a caravan site to be shared with
another man; his payment between £5-10 a week
for hard labour doing ground work seven days a
week. "I was just one of their tools, just a way to
make them money," he said.
He was hit once for bringing no work in on a particular
day, and said other men were hit daily. He felt unable
to leave because of the threat of violence. "By the end
I let go of all of my humanity and I just thought I deserved
it," he said. "The fear was that if I tried to leave I
would be run over, hit by cars. In the end it seemed
easier to stay than to go."
day, and said other men were hit daily. He felt unable
to leave because of the threat of violence. "By the end
I let go of all of my humanity and I just thought I deserved
it," he said. "The fear was that if I tried to leave I
would be run over, hit by cars. In the end it seemed
easier to stay than to go."
When the site was raided by police who suspected
men were being used as slaves, Mike did not believe
his ordeal was over. But he accepted help and spent
three months in a safehouse run by the Salvation Army,
which runs 19 establishments across England and
Wales after winning funding worth £2m from the Home
Office and Ministry of Justice last year.
men were being used as slaves, Mike did not believe
his ordeal was over. But he accepted help and spent
three months in a safehouse run by the Salvation Army,
which runs 19 establishments across England and
Wales after winning funding worth £2m from the Home
Office and Ministry of Justice last year.
Mike hoped his story might encourage others to
come forward and seek help. "I want to get the message
out there, I want people to realise that it does happen.
People need to get out and seek help because there
is help out there." He was looking forward to a brighter
future. "I am more positive, I just want a job, to work
in an office," he said. "I just want a normal life."
come forward and seek help. "I want to get the message
out there, I want people to realise that it does happen.
People need to get out and seek help because there
is help out there." He was looking forward to a brighter
future. "I am more positive, I just want a job, to work
in an office," he said. "I just want a normal life."
• This article was amended on 19 October 2012.
It quoted Helen Grant talking about the harvesting
of sexual organs. She was referring to the harvesting
of organs. This has been corrected.
It quoted Helen Grant talking about the harvesting
of sexual organs. She was referring to the harvesting
of organs. This has been corrected.
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