AIBU to think human trafficking only happens in foreign countries and not in this country?

[Acrazybimbo]

I’ve been hearing a lot about trafficking lately and always thought it only happens in foreign countries but rarely if ever in the UK as it’s never been a thing or talked about round here. I know a random thread to start but how in this country do they get away with it in this day and age with technology being how it is?

It’s not just people trafficked for sex work, but also for work in the care sector.

Do you mean it doesn't happen to British citizens? Because it definitely happens in Britain where people are trafficked here from overseas.

The Chinese cockle pickers who perished in Morecambe bay were effectively slaves.

There was also an Indian fast food place in Lancaster where the owner was imprisoned for having illegal workers living in squalid conditions above the shop.

@Upallnight2 same here, makes sense that they do.

where do you live @Acrazybimbo ? If you are in a city then I guarantee you are within 5 miles of slaves.

There are thousands of children trafficked into the UK into the cannabis industry alone

Definitely!

County lines is drug dealing not human trafficking. I mean it could involve trafficked people but that isn't the normal meaning of the phrase

Rife in the care industry. All sorts of home care companies appearing out of nowhere with incredibly dubious African staff. Wherever there is a gap in the market, slavery will exploit it.

I feel like this is a topic which crops up regularly in the local newspapers. Often to do with some poor women who have been brought over and end up in a brothel.

It doesn’t just happen in the uk.

I used to be a social worker until a few years ago. Sorry OP. Human trafficking is a HUGE problem in this country. It was bad 8 years ago. I can sadly only imagine it’s worse now. A lot of it happens “underground” or hidden, but it’s prevalent.

how likely does it happen to British citizens? Is there a certain type they most likely go after or can anyone who isn’t aware fall victim? I’ve heard of disabled people being trafficked particularly learning disability

There was a huge case near me a few years ago. Large traveller family (I know not all travellers are like this!) recruited ‘staff’ to work with their team. I think 8 men and 1 woman were charged. The saddest thing was the people who were trafficked were brought as witnesses and they praised those on trial! As far as they were concerned, they were ‘rescued’ - given somewhere to live (squalid caravans), work and pay (obviously not good conditions or pay but better than what they’d have got at home).

I work in healthcare and I’ve seen a few patients where there’s been concern. Usually starts with them not having ID or NHS number. Had one where a young woman came in with a man claiming to be her brother but also other men. She spoke barely any English, he spoke for her. Didn’t want her to be left alone with staff. Story of what happened didn’t add up.

It’s incredibly naive to think that there aren’t trafficked people in the UK or from the UK. Look into Hope for justice for more information. They estimate there’s more people trafficked in the world now there were people in slavery when it was abolished.

Many organisations/businesses have modern slavery statements on their websites, to show how they address issues such as human trafficking.

So are there any legitimate nail salons, car washes ? How can we tell ? And if it us common knowledge why aren't they investigated.

I often wonder about local Chinese restaurant that have a lot of staff but they akways seem pleasant and sociable.

Also if you use Deliveroo, eat fruit and veg, eat in restaurants or partake in recreational drugs. Human trafficking is the grim dark underbelly supporting a myriad of industries in this country. The reason why your manicure is an affordable weekly treat is because the young Vietnamese manicurists has almost certainly been trafficked not that our politicians care because it’s what businesses demand. Cheap biddable labour which can be easily exploited.

I heard one of Farage's lot talking about Turkish barbers and how they would investigate if elected. I mean there's got to be something going on. All of a sudden every UK highstreet has scores of the bloody things appearing out of nowhere.

My mum is. But to be fair to her she is in her 80's and is no longer out on the high street much. But yes it has been reported on reasonably frequently and is horrifying.

There are some warning signs. High turnover of staff. Staff wearing name badges that don’t seem appropriate or multiple staff wearing the same name badge. Set up having one person who speaks English and the other staff don’t speak to you at all.
There’s two hand car washes near me. One has had the same staff for years, they chat to customers. Another seems to have a fast turnover of staff. One time a guy cleaned my car. He smelt truly awful. I don’t mean like a bit whiffy. I mean like he didn’t have access to washing facilities and lived somewhere damp smell. He had a look in his eyes I can only describe as haunted. I haven’t been back there since.

This.

All over the country, even in sleepy little towns. Wake up its happening.

It is mad how these firms can set up and start trading with staff who do not have the Right to Work in the UK but they don't get checked until sufficiently reported, or never checked at all. CQC will allow companies to set up as long as they meet requirements but nobody checks the staff they have employed, and this is vulnerable personal care we're talking about.

You're thinking of smuggling people without documents.

One of the common forms of people trafficking in countries like the UK starts with traffickers approaching naive people overseas with the promise of a legitimate job here. The traffickers tell the targets that they work for a lovely hotel that needs chambermaids and just can't get British staff, or maybe that they're working for a childcare agency that urgently needs young women to train as nannies. Then traffickers tell their targets that they'll arrange everything in exchange for an upfront payment now, and money from their wages later.

In one account I read, the traffickers had a woman's entire family convinced that there was a job as a nanny waiting for her. She came from a little village, and the traffickers organised her seat in economy on a normal flight. She was absolutely convinced she was lucky to have got the work opportunity of a lifetime, so she sailed through passport control because she didn't know she needed help. The traffickers met her at the airport and told her everything was being organised for her start that week. Then they said, could she please hand over her passport and ID as security against the cost of her night's lodging, before she paid them back from her wages next month?

You will be able to guess what happened next.

You may want to research the use of Slavery Trafficking Risk Orders and Prevention Orders which are used by law enforcement to prevent harm or to monitor people likely to be involved in such activities. The need for such orders to be set in legislation tells you something about its prevalence.

If you haven't already, please report it. You can report it on 101, or use Crimestoppers anonymously.

Report human trafficking - Citizens Advice

It's not always non-British people. And it's not always adults. Young girls can meet older men who they believe they have a relationship with and they can move them around the country. Schools have regular training in how to spot trafficked children.

www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/child-trafficking/

Huge problem in this country ... the scorpion podcast gives you an insight into what it looks like . Princess Eugenies podcast floodlight also covers this .

Not to sound rude but I'm always surprised at how naive people are around this . Technology has further escalated this issue and you have probably used the services of someone who has been trafficked but don't recognise because you don't want to or you can't see beyond your own way of living .