Suffolk looks closer this Modern Slavery Awareness Week

The Suffolk Safer Stronger Communities Board (SSCB) is raising awareness of Modern Slavery this week as part of a local campaign.
Published: 27 Jun 2022

The campaign, ‘Suffolk Looks Closer’ will support people to spot the signs of Modern Slavery and empower them to report any concerns.

Modern Slavery is an umbrella term used when someone is coerced or forced to do something they don’t want to do and another person gains from this exploitation. Victims of Modern Slavery are held against their will and are often unseen and unheard. They can be of any age, gender, nationality and ethnicity. It is often hidden in plain sight, making it harder to recognise victims. People are often unable to escape because of fear for their own lives or for the lives of their family, or because they don’t know who to turn to or who to trust. 40.3 million people worldwide are estimated to be victims of Modern Slavery.

There are five main types of Modern Slavery, but the focus for this week is labour exploitation and sexual exploitation. 

Labour exploitation is when victims are forced to work against their will for long hours and for little or no pay, in poor conditions and under verbal or physical threats of violence to them or their families. Sexual exploitation is when victims are pressured or manipulated into sexual activity. Victims are primarily women and children, but men can be affected too.

The Modern Slavery Network, which reports to the SSCB will be hosting a number of community events across the week in Bury St Edmunds, Lowestoft, Sudbury and Ipswich, where people can speak to representatives from Suffolk Police, Suffolk County Council and local District and Borough Councils. The events will run between 10:30am and 3:00pm- see the full list of events below:

  • Wednesday 29 June – Bury St Edmunds, Market Place – Suffolk Constabulary
  • Thursday 30 June - Lowestoft Britton Centre – Suffolk Constabulary, East Suffolk Council
  • Thursday 30 June – Sudbury, Market Place - Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Council, Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Constabulary
  • Thursday 30 June – Ipswich Cornhill – Suffolk Constabulary, Ipswich Borough Council, Gangmasters Labour Abuse Authority, Suffolk County Council

Partners will also be sharing social media content across the week using the hashtag #SuffolkLooksCloser.

Cllr Bobby Bennett, Cabinet Member for Equality and Communities and Chair of the Safer Stronger Communities Board, said:

Modern slavery is happening here in the UK, it is not just something that’s happening beyond our borders. We can all play a part in stamping out exploitation by learning to spot the signs. Victims are often isolated, have unusual travel arrangements, show signs of untreated injuries and may be reluctant to seek help. If you think something isn’t right, report it.

You can report any concerns to the UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation helpline on 08000 121 700. It is free, confidential, open 24 hours and available in 200 languages. You can also report to Suffolk Police on 101. Remember, if someone is in immediate danger please call 999 and report it to the police. Do not attempt to intervene yourself as you may put yourself and others in danger, including potential victims of modern slavery. Visit UnseenUK or download the Unseen app, for more information about the common signs of exploitation and how to report it.

The number of referrals in Suffolk has increased annually in line with the national trend.  We have seen an increase in Suffolk Modern Slavery reporting to Suffolk Police from just under 20 reports in 2016 to in excess of 140 reports in 2021.

Carol Dickinson, Modern Slavery Vulnerability Co-ordinator for Suffolk Constabulary, said:

Modern Slavery is a complex crime where victims – men, women, and children - are often controlled by force, deception, threats, fraud and coercion. Often victims are vulnerable and isolated, and fearful or unwilling to come forward to the police. Protecting the vulnerable and putting victims first is a priority for the constabulary; we want to help victims, not criminalise them.Forced labour and sexual exploitation are two areas of Modern Slavery that we particularly want to raise awareness of this week. By making ourselves available at these pop-up events, we hope to engage with our communities across the county so that the public know how to identify the signs and know how to report any concerns.In 2020 the Constabulary launched a new Modern Slavery and Vulnerable Communities Team which, alongside specialist officers, work with partner agencies who come into contact with people who are vulnerable to exploitation. However, the unfortunate reality is that we cannot tackle this issue alone. Communities have a really important role to play in recognising abuse. We need people to open their eyes and look closer to any suspected incidents of exploitation so we can help safeguard victims and pursue offenders. 

Last year, Suffolk Constabulary and Suffolk’s Community Safety Partnerships, jointly funded fund emergency ‘Go Bags’ to help support victims of Modern Slavery (MS) in the county. Supported by retailers Argos and Morrisons, the Go Bags are designed to provide essential items for victims of Modern Slavery and human trafficking, who often have nothing. Contents include items essential toiletries, a basic mobile phone with top up credit, a food voucher and a panic alarm.

 Modern slavery happens in hand car washes across the country. But with only anecdotal evidence, and a partial understanding of the scale of the problem, victim support and enforcement agencies need the public’s help to map this issue.

The Safe Car Wash App has been created to enable the public to help gather information about hand car washes in the UK, identify where there are signs that exploitation or abuse might be taking place, and to help people identify rogue operators and report their concerns.

Read more about the work in Suffolk to tackle Modern Slavery