Modern slavery can take many forms including the trafficking of people, forced labour, servitude and 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:
- identification and referral of victims
- supporting victims – this can be through safeguarding children and adults with care and support needs and through housing/homelessness services
- community safety services and disruption activities
- 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.