What is Human Trafficking?

​Human trafficking and modern slavery affects millions of men, women and children across the world.
It is defined by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime  as:
.
The Act of recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.

​Broken down into simpler terms, this means human trafficking is made up of three elements:

  • The Act – which is the movement or recruitment by
  • The Means – deception, coercion and/or threats for
  • The Purpose of exploitation.
What is Modern Slavery?

This acts as an umbrella term, which covers a number of human rights issues, Human Trafficking is a form of Modern Slavery.

​Modern slavery also encompasses:
  • Debt Bondage
  • Descent based slavery
  • Servitude
  • Forced or compulsory labour
  • Forced or early marriage

There many external vulnerabilities that lead to people being tricked into exploitative situations. Once people are in these exploitative situations it is very difficult to get away and people can remain in slavery for long periods of time.  

Being Aware

Trafficking and slavery are happening in nearly every community; however, this is often a crime that appears hidden. Being able to spot the signs and identifying it is the key to stopping it. 
What to look out for

There are many different signs that a person might be at risk or being exploited and they may change depending on the type of exploitation. A few to be aware of include, if a person:

  • appears to be under the control or persuasion of another person
  • shows signs of physical or emotional abuse
  • appears withdrawn and isolated
  • is being picked up and dropped off at locations early in the morning or late at night
  • appears to have restricted movement
  • has been threatened or their family has been threatened
  • is not in possession of their ID or legal documents and maybe someone else is.
What to do if you suspect that someone is in slavery?

If you suspect that someone is in slavery, DO NOT confront them or cause a scene as this will likely lead to increased harm for them. Instead, inform relevant authorities or organisations working in the field.
If you are in the UK and suspect someone might be in slavery, you have several options:
  • Call the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700 (confidentially 24 hours a day, 365 days a year), or fill out an online form.
  • Contact the Police – 999 in an emergency
  • Contact the Children or Adult Safeguarding Team at the Local Authority
  • Call the Salvation Army referral helpline on 0800 808 3733.
​For more information on spotting the signs:

​​Useful Links:
Modern Slavery helpline 
Derby Safeguarding Board
​Salvation Army Modern Slavery page

The National Referral Mechanism (NRM)

The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is a government framework for identifying victims of human trafficking or modern slavery and ensuring they receive the appropriate support.

​Who can make a referral into the NRM? ​

There are only certain approved organisations who are 'First Responders' who can refer a person into the NRM.  The First Responder will speak to the potential victim of human trafficking and/or modern slavery to discuss the NRM and assess whether they show indicators of trafficking.  If the First Responder believes an individual may have experienced trafficking or slavery and the potential victim agrees to a referral being made, then the First Responder will complete a form and send it to the Competent Authority.  You can find a list of First Responders here.  
Two of the key First Responders are the Local Authority & Police but the Salvation Army are also First Responders and they have a 24/7 referral helpline: 0300 303 8151

What happens after a referral is made? ​

Once a referral has been made, individuals are generally offered support.  If they do not have accommodation, they might be offered accommodation in an NRM safehouse or if they do not wish to access accommodation, they might be offered outreach support in the community.  NRM support is facilitated by the Salvation Army who utilise the expertise of a number of charities to provide support while in the NRM decision making process.  Within 5 days an initial decision is made; this is known as a reasonable grounds decision, and if this decision is positive then individuals can remain in support until their conclusive ground decision is made.

The NRM grants a minimum reflection and recovery period of 45 days for victims of human trafficking.  During this time trained case owners at the Single Competent Authority decide whether individuals referred to them should be considered to be victims of trafficking according to the definition in the Council of Europe Convention.  The decision-making process will take no less than 45 days but there is no deadline on when it must be completed.  Once an individual receives a positive conclusive grounds decision then a Recovery Needs Assessment will be completed and if the single competent authority agrees that support should be ongoing, this will continue for up to 6 months. 

What happens after the NRM? ​

Many individuals will exit the NRM with a long journey ahead of them, with various barriers to overcome. 

Rebuild East Midlands started in 2017 in response to the increasing number of individuals identified as living in Derby who had experienced human trafficking and modern slavery, and were not receiving the support they needed to recover and rebuild their lives. 

This is where Rebuild East Midlands will support individuals to overcome barriers they may face in moving forward with their lives.  Rebuild caseworkers will work closely with individuals to ensure that they get the right support and encouragement to integrate back into the community, and rebuild their lives.
​Learn more about our Mission, Vision and Values

Breakdown of terminology:

  • NRM – National Referral Mechanism (the government system for identifying victims of modern slavery, as well as a pathway to support).
  • Single Competent Authority – the NRM decision making body within the Home Office.
  • First Responder – a specific organisation with the ability to refer someone into the NRM (e.g Local Authority, Police, Salvation Army and many more).
  • Reasonable grounds decision – the initial decision from the Competent Authority that someone is a potential victim of modern slavery..
  • Conclusive grounds decision – the final decision from the Competent Authority that someone is definitely a victim of modern slavery.

Useful Website Links:
Anti-Slavery website

Anti-Slavery Commissioner

The NWG Network - The NWG Exploitation Response Unit (formerly National Working Group For Sexually Exploited Children and Young People)

Every Child Protected Against Trafficking (ECPAT)

The Snowdrop Project