Scandal of Scotland’s child slaves
REpORT REvEALS SHOCKIng ExpLOITATIOn 300 cases were reported in 18 months and one in 10 of the victims was a child
DOZENS of children have been victims of trafficking and exploitation in Scotland over the last 18 months, a chilling report into modern slavery reveals.
There have been nearly 300 cases reported in 18 months – and more than one in 10 of the victims were children.
Anti-slavery charity Unseen discovered 82 cases involving 297 potential victims of trafficking and exploitation based on calls and online reports to their UK-wide helpline.
Andrew Wallis, chief executive of Unseen, said: “With cases in 19 out of 33 Scottish counties, this report underlines that slavery is all around us.
“It’s at the car wash, the nail bar, the takeaway and the hotel, as well as farms that grow our food.
“It’s under our noses and we can arm ourselves by learning to spot the signs of slavery and report it to the helpline. Your call could mean somebody’s freedom.”
A total of 34 child victims were reported. The study also found that more than 60 per cent of cases related to labour exploitation, while 17 per cent of cases were sexual. Car washes by STEPHEN STEWART (15 cases) and nail bars (11) were the most common businesses involved in exploitation.
Since the Modern Slavery Act of 2015, British firms over a certain size are required to report on slavery in their supply chains.
In April, the UK National Crime Agency reported a 35 per cent annual rise in the number of suspected slavery victims found in the UK, with more than 5000 people referred to the Government mechanism that supports them last year.
Labour rather than sexual exploitation was the most common type of modern slavery cited.
The Helpline report’s publication coincides with a Holyrood study on the first year of their Scottish Strategy on Trafficking and Exploitation. It aims to support Scottish efforts to increase awareness and prevention of this crime.
Unseen also run safe houses for men, women and children who are survivors of trafficking and work with the police, health workers, government, businesses and others to help prevent and protect against modern slavery.