Don’t Turn A Blind Eye To Modern Slavery

The City of Cardiff Council is adding its support to the all Wales Anti-Slavery Week to raise awareness of the issue and encourage people to be on the look out for cases. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Since 2010, Anti-Slavery Day has been held each year on October 18 to highlight the problem of modern slavery and human trafficking and inspire organisations to work together to eliminate it. In Wales, the awareness raising week is held from October 17 -21. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council works with partners, including police, health and third sector organisations to promote a multi-agency approach to the issue and since 2013, the Cardiff & Vale Human Trafficking Forum, which includes representation from all key organisations, has been providing an opportunity to inform and educate key local services about issues relating to modern slavery. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Member for Skills, Safety, Engagement and Democracy, Cllr Dan De’Ath, said: “It may come as a surprise to many people that slavery is still a problem in this day and age but it’s a very real issue and a crime whereby vulnerable people are treated as commodities and exploited for criminal gain. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s difficult to know the true extent of the issue in our towns and cities and that’s why it’s crucial people are aware of the signs and don’t turn a blind eye to it. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The City Council is committed to making Cardiff a safe and fair society and to working with our partners to raise awareness, share information and intelligence to identify victims and achieve effective outcomes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The victims of modern slavery and human trafficking are extremely vulnerable and it’s one of our priorities to support these individuals.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Modern slavery can take many forms including the trafficking of people, forced labour, servitude and slavery. Signs of slavery are often hidden, but here is some advice to follow should you suspect someone is a victim of exploitation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Be wary of people knocking on you front door asking for work such a paving, gardening etc. If you want a job done – find your own contractor. Be careful about web-related reviews of work carried out, as these can be fabricated. Rely on word of mouth and obtain at least two quotes ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Think about what is happening in situations where there are groups of foreign workers. How much do they get paid? Where do they live? What are their living conditions? If a job is cheap……it will be because labour is cheap. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Be observant about those in low paid jobs eg car valeting, restaurants, take aways, nail bars, cleaning – could they be victims of forced labour or labour exploitation? ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Are there children in your community who are not attending school and seem to be doing a lot of “jobs” around the home? ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Women held in domestic servitude are more commonly found in areas of wealth and with professional people ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Look out for older men/women grooming young people ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​