Campaign to tackle the evils of modern slavery

A campaign aimed at helping Buckinghamshire tofight modern slavery has won the support of Buckinghamshire County Council’s Transport Environment and Communities Select Committee.

Described as a hidden crime,modern slaverytraps vulnerable victims inforced labour, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude and child trafficking.

Not only does it rob people of human rights,and risk their health and wellbeing, italso generates big money for organised crime, Select Committee Members were told on Tuesday (May 31).

But only a very small proportion of the likely number of victims is ever reported: eight in the Thames Valley Police area during the last quarter of 2014, compared with an estimated 100 victims in Buckinghamshire alone.

The emerging awareness campaign, in response to legislation aimed at supporting victims and catching the exploiters, majors on helping people spot the signs of modern slavery and know how and where to report it.

The Safer and Stronger Bucks Partnership Board (SSBPB) -of which the County Council is a member- has commissioned research from the Jill Dando Institute to help understand the extent of modern slavery locally, what is known aboutoffenders, victims and locations,and how agencies can respond.

But the Select Committee were told thatwhile the 2015 Government legislation gives councils a statutoryduty to report potential victims of modern slavery to the Home Office and support them, there’s no financial support from Whitehall.

And pressure on the County Council’s budget means either diverting money from other programmes, or going through a lengthy bidding process for partnership funding, which has no guarantee of success.

Community Safety Co-ordinator Martha Edwards told the Select Committee the hidden and unknown nature of the crimes was the biggest challenge facing agencies wanting to help people. Harm caused was long lasting and demand on services great.

Martin Phillips, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Public Health said: ‘Clearly slavery didn’t die with the courageous efforts of 19th century campaigners like William Wilberforce and Buckinghamshire’s own JohnNewton. We have a 21st century fight on our hands to protect vulnerable victims of organised crime.

‘The first move towards catching the crooks who exploit vulnerable people in such an evil controlling way, is to help people recognise the signs and make it easy to report. That’s just what we’re planning with our campaign.’

However, added Martin: ‘Without proper funding, it feels a bit like a Dad’s Army exercise, with broomsticks, picks and shovels, to tackle an important issue that demands an arsenal ofprofessional weaponry.’

Select Committee Chairman David Carroll said this was a matter of critical importance thatwon the committee’sutmost support, and urged a letter from the Cabinet Member to Police and Crime Commissioner Anthony Stansfeld.

‘We need this on the PCC’s agenda and make the partnership between the County Council and Thames Valley Police really work hard for the protection of the victims of this appalling crime in our communities,’ he said.