Modern slavery in Colchester the subject of conference

Colchester District Commander Colin Cox said the victims are “vulnerable and scared” and that violence is often used to control them.

It follows a trailblazing conference which explored ways to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking in Colchester and the wider region.

Last year, the Home Office received 16,938 referrals into the National Referral Mechanism, which provides safeguarding and support for victims of modern slavery.

Awareness - Colchester District Commander Colin Cox speaks at the conference (Image: Colchester Council)

It represented an increase of 33 per cent on the preceding year.

Chief Insp Cox said: “Modern slavery is an underreported crime. The victims are vulnerable, scared and violence is often used to control them.

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“Many people don’t realise that human trafficking and modern slavery happens here in Essex.

“Whether it’s teenagers being controlled by county lines drug dealers, women being pushed into sex work, or people forced to work for little for no money at car washes or on building sites.”

Exploitation - a pledge has been made to tackle modern slavery in Colchester (Image: Louis-Paul St-Onge)

Mr Cox said specialist officers have been working to safeguard victims and a number of operations have ran to raise awareness of the warning signs of exploitation.

He added: “We need people to report their concerns. If they see someone who looks afraid or seems to be under the control of others, please tell us.”

During the conference last week, an alliance of community partners and stakeholders came together including Colchester Council, Essex Police and Together Free.

They highlighted their work to combat offences of forced criminality, labour exploitation, sexual exploitation and domestic servitude.

Pledge - Julie Young (Image: Newsquest)

The Global Slavery Index estimates there are 136,000 victims of modern slavery within the UK.

Colchester Council’s housing and communities boss Julie Young said: “Words cannot begin to describe the horror and destructive nature of human trafficking and modern day slavery.

“It is a scandal and must be fought wherever and in whatever form it takes.

“Modern slavery and human trafficking are heinous crimes, which not only impact individual victims but local communities too.

“Exploiters take advantage of the most vulnerable within our communities, subjecting them to dehumanising abuse.”

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