MODERN SLAVERY FEARED TO BE ON THE RISE IN WALES

THE number of people feared to be at risk of modern slavery in Wales is set to top last year’s figure. Last year 134 people were deemed to be in danger of being exploited by traffickers.

But between January and March a total of 35 were referred to the National Crime Agency. At that rate the figure will be 140 by the end of 2016.

Three of the 35 were children judged to be in peril of being forced into sex slavery. They came from Uganda, Spain and the Czech Republic and were among 11 people thought at risk of sex slavery – either abuse or forced prostitution. In total five youngsters were discovered at risk of slavery.

Andrew Wallis, chief executive of anti-slavery group Unseen, has previously said how the scale of the problem is probably “vastly underestimated” but he praised Wales.

“Of all the devolved nations, Wales is the most proactive in what it is trying to do,” he said.

“Anti-slavery tsar Steve Chapman has done a great job in leading the effort in Wales, though there is always more to be done.”

People from Vietnam were the most likely to be referred to the NCA, with nine Vietnamese sent in Wales, followed by five Sudanese and three Albanians.

Authorities were alerted to other types of modern slavery, including labour exploitation and domestic servitude, where potential victims are often kept housebound doing housework without being allowed to quit.

In February David Daniel Doran was jailed for four-and-a-half years after admitting forcing Darrell Simester to work on a farm near Newport for 13 years.

And in May Patrick Joseph Connors was locked up for 14 years, his son Patrick Dean Connors for sixand-a-half and his nephew William Connors for four.

They were convicted of requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour after they made two men work for their tarmacking business.

Mr Wallis said collaboration between organisations was essential.

“What more needs to be done, and this is across the UK, we have to have a serious think about how we help survivors long term, so that they are not vulnerable to long-term exploitation,” Mr Wallis said.

At the moment “we give them a safety net and then take that away”.

“That person is then going to fall,” Mr Wallis said.

“It’s important we take a decision as quickly as possible in relation to someone’s status.

“But we really, as a society and at government level, need to be thinking about the long-term impact of not helping these people.”

Survivors need to be able to get on “with their lives”.

“It’s incumbent on us to give them support,” Mr Wallis said.

Britain is failing to provide “specific provision” for children, he added.

“We do not have a combination of accommodation and support services. And for some kids that is OK. But if you talk to psychologists, the trauma and issues kids face as a result of trafficking are very specific, and they need specific help.

“Between 60% and 85% of trafficked kids put in care disappear again in the first 72 hours.”

They need proper care “to make a full recovery”.

Gwent Police’s Detective Chief Inspector Mark Pope is the person in charge of anti-slavery drive Operation Imperial.

“It is a common misconception that modern slavery is an issue for other parts of the world,” he said.

“The reality is that human trafficking victims exist in communities across Wales.

“In Gwent we are currently carrying out a major investigation, Op Imperial, into forced labour and I feel it is important to raise awareness, identify the exploitation and do all we can to protect some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.

“Victims of these kinds of offences are sometimes unaware that they are victims, or are in fear from those controlling them.

“Sometimes their fear prevents them from seeking help from the authorities.”

North Wales Police’s Detective Superintendent Mark Pierce said slavery had “a devastating effect on the victims”.

“The eyes and ears of everyone in the community are the most effective weapon against this criminality,” he said.

“If you suspect something is not right, please let someone know.

“North Wales Police are committed to working with partners to deliver effective support to victims and to prosecute those involved.”

The Welsh Government said slavery was “a despicable crime that brings misery and suffering to those affected”.

“We are as committed as ever to making Wales hostile to slavery,” a spokesman said.

“To get the best outcomes we have to tackle slavery at a UK, Wales and local level and we have to work together across government and the public, private and third sectors.

“In 2015 we trained over 4,500 people from public and third-sector organisations to recognise the signs of slavery and to report incidents so that we can provide support to victims and bring perpetrators to justice.”