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Original poster

Modern day slavery happening in front of us

29 replies

UsedToBeAPaxmanFan · 12/09/2017 18:19

I've been following this story and it's really appalling:

Rooney traveller family jailed for modern slavery offences - www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-41241049

Some of the victims were kept as slaves for years. It's unbelievable that it took this long for the authorities to become aware but I guess the victims were "hidden". I just wonder if there's any way that crimes like this can be flagged up at an earlier stage?

We have a hand carwash near us which was raided a year ago and it transpired thay the workers there were being kept in appalling conditions, had their passports removed (they were from Eastern Europe) and made to work long hours for very little pay. Now, whenever I'm at a car wash, I ask the person who is doing my car if they are ok, if they are treated well etc but I'm not sure they'd tell me even if they weren't.

I don't know if there's anything we can do to be aware of when people might be being kept in appalling conditions?

OP posts:
SoPassRemarkable · 12/09/2017 18:22

This happened very, very close to me. I saw one of the slaves every day for years and chatted to him dozens of times. Would never have known anything was wrong. Like you said, I don't think he would have said anything was wrong even if asked outright.

SoPassRemarkable · 12/09/2017 18:23

And when I saw him he was always on his own so the opportunity was there to get away but it shows what the psychological fear must have Been like.

AveEldon · 12/09/2017 18:24

Well the police are well known for ignoring offences committed by members of the travelling community in general

Original poster
UsedToBeAPaxmanFan · 12/09/2017 18:32

Exactly SoPass, ingrained fear stopping victims fro speaking out or escaping. I just don't know if there is more we could/should do to identify this sort if abuse.

OP posts:
Kpo58 · 12/09/2017 22:25

I found it appalling that the sentences for the traveler family was shorter than the time some of the men had been kept as slaves.

clarinsgirl · 12/09/2017 22:40

sopass, we must live very near each other. I knew there were problems. I spoke to the brothers regularly but had no clue what was going on. My hope is that the main adults of the family are behind bars long enough to save the younger children in the family.

SoPassRemarkable · 13/09/2017 06:29

Sadly I doubt it Clarins. Dd was at primary school with two of the boys who will be older teenagers now and even then they used to boast about getting taken out on nighttime jaunts with older members of the family when they were out breaking and entering. I should think they'll be old enough to carry on.

MissEliza · 13/09/2017 09:21

What a sad story. About five years ago there was a traveller family who arrived in our town and went about doing people's driveways etc. One of ds's friends remarked that he had watched them do a neighbour's drive and the workers looked too old to be doing that job and that the man in charge spoke to them really badly but they just accepted it. When he said that, I also noticed that they looked really frail and just sad really. Within a few months the traveller family had packed up and moved on. The amount of news stories I've read about slaves in this country makes me wonder about what was going on there and how common this is. I hope the authorities keep up their good work.

Efferlunt · 13/09/2017 09:49

It's never been more profitable to keep slaves apparently. Much better returns than in the 17th century according to the inde. One sex-trafficked woman can represent £37000 pa profit. Shocking.

DuckOffAutocorrectYouShiv · 13/09/2017 09:54

There was a thread about nail bars here yesterday. They are a huge factor in the UK people trafficking/modern slavery issue.

This is not a 'traveller' issue.

MissEliza · 13/09/2017 10:56

Oh yes Duck totally agree. There are different groups trafficking or enslaving people for different purposes.

Arkengarthdale · 13/09/2017 11:07

This particular story is, Duck

scaryclown · 13/09/2017 11:12

There is a way to report somewhere..
I thought about it as some of the people working at a local hand car wash definitely sleep on the premises, and I think may also be heroin addicts..

Fluffypinkpyjamas · 13/09/2017 11:12

Eldon you are right about that. The police let them get away with prettt much everything. Hence the problem and Duck that's what this thread is about. Nice try though.

DuckOffAutocorrectYouShiv · 13/09/2017 11:12

Yes, this story is but these kinds of threads often end as a generalised 'traveller bashing' session. It's worth bearing in mind that exploitation and modern slavery is not confined or unique to this community.

ElizabethShaw · 13/09/2017 11:12

Car washes and nail bars seem to be particularly suspect. A car wash near me was shut down recently for various H&S issues and staff (Eastern European) were found to be living onsite and being paid less than NMW - however it quickly reopened with the owner claiming everyone was treated well and paid properly Hmm

DuckOffAutocorrectYouShiv · 13/09/2017 11:16

Anddddd there we go, "the police let them get away with pretty much everything".

How to report modern slavery. advice from the UK Home Office

DuckOffAutocorrectYouShiv · 13/09/2017 11:18

Online reporting mechanism via Modern Slavery Helpline

or

Telephone 0800 0121 700

These are routes recommended by the Home Office

Kazzyhoward · 13/09/2017 11:20

Don't forget the Chinese cockle pickers who drowned in Morecambe Bay in 2004. Modern day slavery has been happening for quite a while.

Fluffypinkpyjamas · 13/09/2017 11:21

Grin oh dear god, Them is a word used to describe other people. You are just being ridiculous Duck

The mothers in the playground - them
The golfers over there - them
The tourists on the beach - them

orlantina · 13/09/2017 22:03

Them is a word used to describe other people

I presume you belong to 'us'?

But TBH, people with an attitude like yours are not a member of any group I'd like to be associated with.

Anyone who uses 'them' in the way you used is 'othering'.

But I guess you knew that.

Fluffypinkpyjamas · 13/09/2017 22:40

So now the word them to describe other people as it has always been used, is othering? Mmmm ok. Did you buy the emperors news clothes and female penises too by any chance?

orlantina · 14/09/2017 07:41

The police let them get away with prettt much everything. Hence the problem and Duck that's what this thread is about. Nice try though

People who use the word 'them' in such a context know exactly what they are doing.

But I'm sure you know that.