An introduction to safeguarding A briefing for Members

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1 An introduction to safeguarding A briefing for Members 10 February 2016

2 Modern Slavery & Cornwall Modern Slavery Act 2015; cross-government commitment to identifying and responding to modern slavery - Forced labour; Victims are forced to work against their will, often working very long hours for little or no pay in dire conditions under verbal or physical threats of violence. - Debt bondage; Victims are forced to work to pay off debts that realistically they never will be able to. - Sexual exploitation; Victims are forced to perform non-consensual or abusive sexual acts against their will, such as prostitution, escort work and pornography. Adults are coerced often under the threat of force, or another penalty. - Criminal exploitation; Often controlled and maltreated, victims are forced into crimes such as cannabis cultivation or pick pocketing against their will. - Domestic servitude; Victims are forced to carry out housework and domestic chores in private households with little or no pay, restricted movement, very limited or no free time and minimal privacy often sleeping where they work.

3 21 million people worldwide are victims of forced labour M F 9.5 million 11.4 million For UK; 3,309 referrals ,349 adults & 732 children 73% non-eea, 6% UK 13% domestic servitude 34% labour exploitation 36% sexual exploitation M F 2,018 1, children For SW; 59 referrals adults & 12 children 80% adult 31% non-eea, 22% UK 8% domestic servitude 41% labour exploitation 41% sexual exploitation M F 59 adults 12 children

4 Cornwall s Organised Crime Local Profile; the risks Population; 34% rural isolation Low minority ethnic groups (4.3%) Visitors (service stretch) Labour market & economy; Low wages, high unemployment Seasonal & part-time jobs Fewer opportunities young people Areas of persistent worklessness (disability & ill-health) Ares of high deprivation Low minority ethnic groups Visitors (service stretch) Health & Wellbeing; Higher prevalence of limiting long term health problems including mental health Higher % of working age people claiming healthrelated benefit due to problem alcohol use Housing; Affordability & availability Welfare system Visitors (service stretch) Rural/isolation = harder to access help & support Economic situation = more vulnerable to exploitation Victim = more willing to accept sub-standard accommodation Vulnerabilities = more vulnerable to exploitation West Cornwall Project Pegasus is a multi-agency campaign encouraging the public and law enforcement partners to join the fight against serious and organised crime and terrorism by reporting unusual activity around small aviation sites. Project Kraken is a National Crime Agency, Police and Border Force initiative to increase vigilance along the UK s coastline and maritime environment. There is potential to extend this prevention activity to include awareness of Modern Slavery and of the provisions within the Act for the seizure and detention of vessels involved. Newquay Airport In the 12 months to June 2015, 233,000 passengers passed through Newquay Airport: this is compared to 198,000 passengers in the previous 12 months. East Cornwall

5 Cornwall s Organised Crime Local Profile; Agriculture Agriculture; number & location of crop & animal production related activities Producers struggle with cost & global competition vs customer demand = drive to reduce cost = risk to exploitation

6 Cornwall s Organised Crime Local Profile; Tourism Number & location of 680 catering & 410 accommodation businesses Competitive market = struggle with cost vs customer demand = drive to reduce cost = transient visitors reporting = risk to exploitation = risk to injury Care Providers, factories, fishing, nail bars.

7 Cornwall Profile Labour exploitation: There are concerns that workers are being trafficked into Cornwall from countries such as Lithuania and Romania, many of whom then become involved in manual labour on farms. There are concerns that their living conditions are extremely poor, with workers living in cramped conditions in caravans shared by several other people with very basic facilities. They may find it difficult to access any support services due to the language barrier, and it is possible that they are not being paid. As citizens of one country become more aware of their rights, exploiters may start to look to other similar countries for their victims so the problem is not limited to one or two countries.

8 Cornwall Profile Sexual exploitation: Concerns about female escorts grooming one of their daughters to be used in the agency. Sexual exploitation: Concerns about an Eastern European teenager being prostituted at a hotel (temporary brothel) and another group of Eastern Europeans renting a holiday flat for the same purpose. Labour exploitation: Concerns for various foreign workers at restaurants where they are given substandard accommodation and only minimal food as payment for work. Their English is not strong and they have no friends or family in the UK for support.

9 Cornwall Profile Have you seen any of the following? Staff wages being less than minimum wage; Staff working very long days/weeks; A manager speaking on behalf of the workers, where they appear to have poor English or be unwilling to engage; Any suggest of debt bondage to the employer; Apparent poor working/living conditions especially if staff live on site or are driven to work by the employer. Hand car washes are increasingly being identified as sites where it is possible for labour exploitation to occur.

10 Cornwall Profile Illegal immigrants who have been arrested by Immigration Enforcement Officers of the 22 people arrested in Cornwall: 11 Bangladeshis and 4 Chinese were arrested at restaurants and takeaways in 6 different areas; 5 Bangladeshis were arrested at a private address 2 Vietnamese were in a nail bar. If restaurants/takeaways and nail bars are using illegal immigrants as workers, then it is possible they are also committing modern slavery offences.

11 Where do I get further advice? Multi-agency Referral Unit (MARU) Local Safeguarding Adult Board website Local Safeguarding Childrens Board website Safer Cornwall