BBC Report - Slavery and Human Trafficking in the UK - Right here, Right now

My recent posts on human trafficking and modern slavery in the UK have highlighted the importance of action and vigilance in combatting this heinous crime, committed every day across our Islands.

Theresa May has promised initial funding to provide police and private enterprise with financial support, in educating and identifying the cause and effect on many hundreds of vulnerable people, who deserve our protection in attaining basic human rights. 

The Independent Anti- Slavery Commissioner has launched a Strategic Plan as an objective guide to a structured and informed approach to preventing and detecting this despicable abuse of human beings in our country and across the world.

BBC Radio Manchester will this week launch a series investigating the issue of modern slavery running from Monday 22 August - Friday 26th August

A series of reports and features will investigate the rise in modern slavery in Greater Manchester and across the UK.

The series, titled ‘Modern Slavery – Hidden in Plain Sight’’, delves into the cause of the problem, looking at who’s trafficking victims to the UK and highlighting how close we really are to the problem.

This series comes after The Salvation Army exclusively told the BBC that there has been an almost fivefold rise in the number of slavery victims it has supported in England and Wales since 2012.

The charity says it helped 1,805 people between April 2015 and March 2016. By comparison, it had 378 referrals between July 2011 and June 2012 - its first year of operating the government contract to support victims.

The Home Office said the rise was a sign that efforts to highlight modern slavery were working.

Sarah Newton, Minister for safeguarding, vulnerability and countering extremism, said: "Slavery has long been hidden in plain sight, and our policy is designed to encourage more victims to come forward and ask for help.

"We welcome increases in the number of referrals as a sign that our efforts to shine a light on modern slavery are working."

One slavery victim said she came to England from south-east Asia to work as a servant in the home of a wealthy family.

She says she was forced to work 14 hours a day for less than ￡100 a week, and that she even had to work on building sites.

"I felt like a chained dog. It was like I was digging my own grave.

"Even though I'm out now, I still feel like I'm in chains. I still have nightmares that my boss is chasing me."

The woman, who wants to remain anonymous, is now at a safe house in Manchester and is applying for asylum to stay in the UK.

Mat Trewern, broadcast journalist at BBC Radio Manchester, said: “Throughout the week we will hear from more victims of slavery both here in the UK and abroad. Many of who have been brought to the UK from Eastern Europe.

“This has been a fascinating and disturbing investigation to work on. On my trip to Romania I was shocked to see how young some of the victims were. It also enabled me to see what happens at the other end of the trafficking trail. It’s easy to think that slavery and trafficking is a million miles away from our everyday lives but actually it's not. Many victims are working in plain sight in our streets, businesses and communities. Modern day slavery is also one of the biggest issues police in Greater Manchester and across the UK are facing.”

Listen in to BBC Radio Manchester from 6am On Monday 22 August.

BBC Radio Manchester is available on 95.1FM, DAB Digital Radio and online via the BBC iPlayer.

Chris Horrocks is a professional consultant on Policing and Crime in the UK.