Modern slavery

The term ‘Modern Slavery' captures a whole range of types of exploitation, including but not limited to:

• sexual exploitation
• domestic servitude
• forced labour and
• criminal exploitation

Councils have a key role to play in tackling modern slavery, including in identifying and supporting victims and working in partnership locally. Councils' role can be separated into four distinct areas:

1. identification and referral of victims
2. supporting victims – this can be through safeguarding children and adults with care and support needs and through housing/homelessness services
3. community safety services and disruption activities
4. ensuring that the supply chains councils procure from are free from modern slavery.

Modern slavery intersects with many different council services and a number of different officers might come across it while going about their everyday activities.

Councils should therefore consider how best to ensure a joined-up approach to the issues across their organisation.