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Modern slavery is increasingly becoming a significant threat to the communities of Lancashire, with more resources being dedicated to tackling the issue.
Modern slavery involves the recruitment and movement of individuals using threats, deception and coercion for the purpose of exploitation. It takes many forms but the most common are sexual exploitation, forced labour and domestic servitude.
Victims are forced to work against their will in many different settings, including brothels, cannabis farms, nail bars, car washes, agriculture and even within people's homes. It is not an issue confined to history or an issue that only exists in certain countries. It is a global problem and it is happening right now here in Lancashire. Human trafficking can also be a part of modern slavery as a person is moved from one place to another this could be country to country, town to town, or even as simple as one room in a building to another.
Unfortunately, few people understand modern slavery and many confuse it with 'migrant working' or 'illegal immigration'. It is a problem that transcends age, gender and ethnicities, and can impact both foreign nationals and British Citizens. Victims are generally living in fear, do not fully understand what is happening to them and comply with their abusers in hiding the reality - often because of threats of violence made to them and their families.
