If we’re going to stop human trafficking we need everyone to open their eyes. It’s happening here in the UK as well as all over the world. It could be happening near you. So we all need to be more aware. Know what signs to look for. Then know what to do if you feel someone is being exploited.
If you see something suspicious, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
The signs to look for depend on where trafficking might take place. Click on the six situations below to discover the signs.
On a farm or factory Domestic labour In a sauna or massage parlour
If you are travelling On your high street Children in a home
On a farm or factory
- Foreign nationals doing farm/factory work.
- Poor/non-existent safety equipment.
- Unsuitable clothing.
- Workers live in overcrowded private rented accommodation.
- Minibuses pick up non-UK nationals at unusual hours.
- Bins full of fast food packaging.
- Workers fearful/poorly integrated into wider community.
- Workers have no time off.
- Employers/others hold their passport/legal documents.
Domestic labour
- Foreign national adult/child lives with family (possibly as a domestic servant/nanny).
- Rarely allowed out of house, unless accompanied.
- Subjected to verbal/physical abuse.
- No private space/poor sleeping arrangements.
- Poor diet/leftovers.
- If a child, poor attendance at school/no time to play.
- Person not interacting much with family
In a Sauna or massage parlour
- Woman is a foreign national.
- Unhappy/unwilling to perform sexual acts.
- Frightened or in physical pain.
- Sees large number of clients each day/night.
- Able to keep little/no money.
- 'Special' services offered, often at low price.
- Woman doesn't smile/reluctant to cooperate.
- Food paid for by another.
- Little/no time off.
- Only knows sex-related English words.
If you are travelling
- Foreign national child travelling alone.
- Has little except a mobile phone.
- Not travelling to UK to meet parent/guardian.
- Suspicious of adults.
- Afraid of being deported.
- Shows signs of inappropriate/sexualised behaviour.
On your high street
- Young, elderly/disabled foreign national begging in public places/on public transport.
- Obvious signs of abuse.
- Fearful of adults (especially law enforcers); jumpy.
- One adult is the guardian of large group of children.
- Large group of adult/child beggars moving daily to different locations, returning to same location every night.
- Moving as a group on public transport. >
Children in a home
- Teenage girl meets older male ‘boyfriend’. Flattery/ gifts ensue, then introduction to alcohol/drugs.
- Man claims she owes him for drugs. Forces her to do sexual favours.
- Girl taken from family home, returned after varying lengths of time; relationship with family/guardians increasingly severed.
- Pictures/films of her engaging in sex activities produce guilt and fear.
- Girl taken to different flats to sleep with different men.
- Girl may not know man is taking payment.
Used by permission of our partners Blue Blindfold