Modern slavery is ‘going on everywhere in UK’

Modern slavery is going on in “every large town and city” in the UK, the National Crime Agency has warned.

It has called on the public to look for victims of trafficking and slavery by noticing visible injuries and signs that they are being controlled.

Human trafficking is affecting tens of thousands of people, the agency said. The body is assisting on 300 live police operations, with alleged victims as young as 12 being sold to families in the UK from Europe.

Will Kerr, NCA director of vulnerabilities, said: “The more that we look for modern slavery, the more we find evidence of the widespread abuse of the vulnerable.”