Modern slavery and human trafficking

Portsmouth City Council is committed to preventing slavery and human trafficking and is an active member of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Modern Slavery Partnership.

The council works across the city and with the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office to raise awareness of the signs of modern slavery, identifying those vulnerable to it and responding with partners to reports and incidents. In its annual statement, the council sets out activities undertaken in the prevention of slavery and human trafficking in the previous financial year.

What is Modern Slavery?

Someone is in slavery if they are:

• Forced to work
• Owned or controlled by an ’employer’
• Dehumanised
• Treated as a commodity or property
• Have restrictions placed on their freedom of movement.

Be aware that slavery still happens and may exist in your neighbourhood, in your business, and in your community. Those trapped within slavery may attend the same school as your children, they may be cooking your food at the local restaurant, they may be painting your nails at the local nail bar, or they may be packing the fruit you eat.

It is everyone’s responsibility to look for slavery and report any suspicions or incidents – working together, it can be stopped.

We all need to know the signs, so we can report it and get help.

The signs could include someone:

• working long hours in harsh or unsafe conditions
• living somewhere dirty, cramped or overcrowded
• living and working at the same address
• being unable to move around freely
• showing signs of physical or psychological abuse
• seeming frightened or withdrawn
• being reluctant to seek help
• being fearful of the police and not knowing who to trust
• having no control of their ID, such as their passport

For further information and to report concerns confidentially about children or adults:

• Children & Young People: Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership
• Adults: Portsmouth Safeguarding Adults Board
• Hampshire and Isle of Wight Modern Slavery Partnership
• Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline (UK): 08000 121 700