Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Modern slavery prosecutions rise by a quarter amid criticism of government crackdown

More than 5,000 potential modern slaves were referred for help last year but the CPS only prosecuted 239 suspects

Home Affairs Correspondent

Thursday 09 August 2018 00:59 BST

Fesal Mahamud and Mahad Yusuf are among the convicts jailed under the Modern Slavery Act (Metropolitan Police)

The number of modern slavery prosecutions has risen by more than a quarter in the past year, but still make up a small fraction of the thousands of potential cases flagged to authorities.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it was committed to improving its response to forced labour and sexual and criminal exploitation after MPs warned that a national strategy had “yet to result in coherent action”.

Alison Saunders, the outgoing director of public prosecutions, said: “Modern slavery has a devastating, lasting impact on its victims. There is no place in our society for those who enslave others, whether for work, sexual or criminal exploitation or domestic servitude.

“We are working in partnership with police and other partners from the outset to make sure we can build robust cases and deliver justice for victims.”

Figures show that in the 2017-18 financial year, 239 suspects were charged with modern slavery offences and 185 people were convicted.

They include a gang who trafficked Vietnamese women to work in nail bars and a Slovakian family who forced “desperate and destitute people” with mental health problems and learning disabilities to cary out menial work while living in dire conditions.

Members of a “county lines” drug gang were prosecuted for modern slavery for the first time, after imprisoning a teenager and forcing her to become a drugs mule.

Police warn modern slaves 'staffing nail bars across UK' as Vietnamese gang jailed in landmark case

British citizens became the largest group of potential modern slaves flagged to the National Referral Mechanism for the first time last year and the CPS warned that violent gangs are exploiting “vulnerable people, often children, to move and sell drugs across the country”.

A total of 5,145 potential victims were referred into the system last year, an increase of 35 per cent on the year before, and the National Crime Agency believes the number will continue to rise.

Referrals to the CPS from police and other agencies rose by a third to 355 – the highest figure recorded – and prosecutors said the increase was part of a “dedicated drive to clamp down on slavery-related crime”.

But an annual report warned that the time taken for investigations has lengthened to an average of three years – double the duration in 2015 – because of complexities caused by having multiple defendants and victims who often need translation services and other support.

The CPS only decides to charge suspects in 67 per cent of cases referred to it – down from 83 per cent in 2014-15 – and 65 per cent of those prosecuted are convicted.

Ms Saunders said the CPS has made significant progress in its response to modern slavery but remains “aware that there is much more to do”.

“These cases are growing in size and complexity – that’s why we have given our prosecutors extensive extra training,” she added. “Reducing the burden on victims and witnesses has been a key part of this training.”

The CPS also deploys staff in the government’s organised immigration crime taskforce to disrupt traffickers, and has a network of 30 specialist prosecutors based overseas to target smugglers in transit countries.

Earlier this year, the CPS hosted prosecutors from 15 countries from Europe, Africa and South America to increase coordination and “prepare for changes that may need to be made to the way in which we operate after Brexit”.

But in May, MPs concluded that modern slavery is not understood by the government and it has no idea whether its crackdown is working.

Modern Slavery in the UK

Show all 13

1/13Modern Slavery in the UK

Modern Slavery in the UK

NCA has launched a touring photographic exhibition which aims to portray the signs of slavery and exploitation. Entitled ‘Invisible People’, the exhibition will tour the country as part of the National Crime Agency’s campaign to raise awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking.

National Crime Agency

Modern Slavery in the UK

Child trafficking

Child trafficking for sexual exploitation Traffickers use grooming techniques to gain the trust of a child, family or community. The children are recruited, transported and then sold for sex, often returning to their homes immediately afterwards, only to be picked up by the same people again. This is happening here in the UK, to migrant and British-born children. Spot the signs of child trafficking: Often, children won’t be sure which country, city or town they’re in. They may be orphaned or living apart from their family, in unregulated private foster care, or in substandard accommodation. They may possess unaccounted-for money or goods or repeatedly have new, unexplained injuries.

National Crime Agency

Modern Slavery in the UK

Agriculture

Some workers in the farming sector, harvesting grains or root vegetables, tending livestock or fruit picking, are being exploited every day in the UK. Victims of this crime in the agricultural sector are often Eastern European men and women, who were promised a job by traffickers, or they could be individuals on the fringes of society, homeless or destitute. Through threats, violence, coercion or forced drug and alcohol dependency, they’re enslaved, working for little or no money, living in squalid conditions having had their identity documents taken from them. Spot the signs of exploitative labour in agriculture: Agricultural slaves often have their wages paid into the same bank account, meaning an illegal gangmaster is likely collecting all their wages. Exploited agriculture workers often don’t have suitable protective equipment, working instead in cheap sports clothing and trainers, and don’t have a different change of clothes from day-to-day.

National Crime Agency

Modern Slavery in the UK

Food processing

Polish or Slovakian men are brought to the UK with the offer of employment and, after arrival, gangmasters seize documents, opening multiple bank and utility accounts in their names – but refuse to handover access to the accounts or bank cards. Hours are long and the work is gruelling and dangerous. Workers are abused and are controlled by threats of harm to their families at home. Spot the signs: Those exploited wear inappropriate clothes and often no safety gear – despite working with dangerous and life-threatening equipment. They may often have untreated injuries and be refused medical attention, and will live and work in agricultural outhouses.

National Crime Agency

Modern Slavery in the UK

Construction

Labour-intensive sectors like construction, where temporary and irregular work are common, are high-risk sectors for forced labour. With new homes, offices and buildings being constructed or upgraded in great quantity, labour exploitation is the second most common type of modern slavery, after sexual exploitation. Spot the signs of exploitative labour in construction: Exploited workers are often not provided with protective clothing or equipment, and may show signs of abuse or carry old untreated injuries. Slave workers are also likely to work extremely long work hours for six or seven days a week without any leave. Photographer Rory Carnegie, said: “I wanted this image to communicate that despite being forced to live, eat, wash and sleep – where they’re working, in cramped and unhygienic conditions, that there is a human instinct to domesticate. I wanted to show how there is still hope and dignity in the most squalid and difficult of circumstances.”

National Crime Agency

Modern Slavery in the UK

Maritime

In the tough maritime industry young men, often Filipino or Indian, Eastern European or African, are promised a better life, but instead find themselves in a cycle of debt and exploitation. Unable to read, they are offered a job, given papers to sign and begin working on a trial-basis, only to be told they have failed and owe money, and have to work more to settle the debt. They may be forced to work for long hours in intense, hazardous and difficult conditions. Photographer Rory Carnegie, said: “In the 80s, Chris Killip published a series of images called In Flagrante, and these images were at the forefront of my mind while composing this shot. I wanted to show the utter desperation of these men - how passed their limit they are. The broken floats and the entire decaying environment around him, I saw as a metaphor for his existence.”

Rory Carnegie/National Crime Agency

Modern Slavery in the UK

Forced prostitution

Each year, women from across Eastern Europe and West Africa are lured to the UK by the dream of a better life. Whether by fake migration services or unscrupulous individuals who befriend and then betray them, women fall into a dark spiral of sexual exploitation and forced, unpaid prostitution, unable to escape. Photographer Rory Carnegie, said: “What I really wanted for this image, was to depict how women are used as commodities, the complete control slavery has over them – the helplessness of having to sit and wait for man after man, until no more men arrive. I wanted the image to show how lonely and eventually numbing that experience is, and for that ugliness to be contrasted against the bright blue of the wig – a fancy dress item that we would usually associate with a fun event – but here is used as a disguise, perhaps of her own identity to herself - to further emphasise how unjust the situation is.”

NCA

Modern Slavery in the UK

Cannabis farming

The cannabis industry hides a dark secret in the house next door. Gangs bring young boys to the UK from countries like Vietnam and deliver them to a house where, once in, they won’t be able to leave. Forced to tend cannabis plants that fill specially rigged houses, the boys are often locked in and forced to work, sleep and eat in one confined and dirty room. The chemicals used on the cannabis are poisonous, and often victims don’t know where they are or how to get help if they do escape. The eyes, ears and compassion of the local community are essential. Spot the signs: Aside from the strong and prolonged smell of cannabis, have you noticed a house that looks unusual? Are the windows covered or usual entry points blocked? Buildings might be over-heated – in very cold weather is the roof without frost, because the house is being kept warm to grow plants

National Crime Agency

Modern Slavery in the UK

Agriculture

Some workers in the farming sector, harvesting grains or root vegetables, tending livestock or fruit picking, are being exploited every day in the UK. Victims of this crime in the agricultural sector are often Eastern European men and women, who were promised a job by traffickers, or they could be individuals on the fringes of society, homeless or destitute. Through threats, violence, coercion or forced drug and alcohol dependency, they’re enslaved, working for little or no money, living in squalid conditions having had their identity documents taken from them. Spot the signs of exploitative labour in agriculture: Agricultural slaves often have their wages paid into the same bank account, meaning an illegal gangmaster is likely collecting all their wages. Exploited agriculture workers often don’t have suitable protective equipment, working instead in cheap sports clothing and trainers, and don’t have a different change of clothes from day-to-day

National Crime Agency

Modern Slavery in the UK

Forced prostitution

Spot the signs of forced prostitution: Victims of this type of crime might appear withdrawn or scared, avoid eye contact, and be untrusting. Poor English language skills could indicate exploitation because it suggests someone else must be arranging the work. A brothel is likely to be an average house on a normal looking street, but may have curtains which are usually closed and many different men coming and going frequently.

National Crime Agency

Modern Slavery in the UK

Maritime

Spot the signs of exploitative labour in the maritime sector: Victims might appear withdrawn or frightened, often unable to answer questions directed at them or speak for themselves,. They might be afraid of authorities like police, immigration or the tax office, and may perceive themselves to be in debt to someone else. They may not have been given proper protective equipment so can suffer illness or injury. Photographer Rory Carnegie, said: “Throughout the series of images, I wanted to juxtapose the harshness of the lives of slaves against bright primary colours – colours we traditionally associate with happiness or a feeling of wellbeing – to provoke a reaction. The image, as rich as it is, communicates how completely uncomfortable this person is. I wanted to show how his body is not his own, and how he has no right to avoid hardship, avoid the ice, or wear better shoes, he is utterly controlled.”

Rory Carnegie/National Crime Agency

Modern Slavery in the UK

Food processing

Photographer Rory Carnegie, said: “This image communicates utter exhaustion and dejection. We can see how dire his situation is. He has no protective gear on, and we can see the extreme tiredness that leads him to a place of anxiety and distraction, where he doesn’t care about whether he’s operating machinery safely, or putting himself at risk.”

National Crime Agency

Modern Slavery in the UK

The exhibition comprises a series of large, freestanding cubes displaying images capturing snapshots of life within different types of modern slavery - in agriculture, construction, maritime, cannabis farming and food processing, child trafficking for sexual exploitation and forced prostitution. Each image comes with written commentary describing what the viewer is seeing, and information about signs which may indicate someone is a victim.

National Crime Agency

The Public Accounts Committee concluded that “good intentions have yet to result in coherent action” against the crimes, with no measure of success for a nationwide strategy and inconsistency between regional police forces.

A report on work to reduce modern slavery found that the government has not calculated the number of modern slaves in Britain, after making an estimate of 10,000 to 13,000 in 2013, or how much money it has spent combating the issue.

HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate called for a “more formal structure” on modern slavery nationwide in December, calling for the CPS to improve training, introduce quality assurances and explain the gulf between modern slavery referrals and prosecutions.

The CPS said it was implementing recommendations and had appointed a chief crown prosecutor to coordinate its work.

While awareness of modern slavery has been increasing, some operations have been met with controversy.

Eastern European flower farm workers protested after their employer was arrested on suspicion of modern slavery offences in February, and Devon and Cornwall Police dropped the case after discussions with the CPS.

The force said 14 people chose to leave the farm with partnership support and 160 workers were safeguarded in total, adding: “It is important to recognise that police had to ensure that the response to serious allegations of modern slavery were followed up and responded to with the gravity this underreported crime deserved.”

Victoria Atkins, the minister for crime, safeguarding and vulnerability, said the new CPS figures were “a clear and stark warning to perpetrators of modern slavery and human trafficking – there is no hiding place for those who seek to exploit and harm others”.

“These figures reflect years of work by government, prosecutors and law enforcement,” she added.

“However, we want to go further as this crime evolves and have recently announced an independent review of our laws to explore what more we can do to tackle this awful crime, both in the UK and abroad.”