Modern Slavery Exploitation What we will explore MODERN

Modern Slavery & Exploitation

What we will explore: MODERN SLAVERY ◈ ◈ ◈ CUCKOOING Definition The law Examples ◈ ◈ CRIMINAL EXPLOITATION ◈ ◈ ◈ Definition Worthing & Adur landscape Indications Professional considerations ADUR & WORTHING APPROACH Definition Data Multi-agency approaches Vulnerability/risk factors Example 2

Modern Slavery DEFINITION: the recruitment, movement, harbouring or receiving of children, women or men through the use of force, coercion, abuse of vulnerability, deception or other means for the purpose of exploitation. ◈ ◈ Those being exploited can be moved into, out of, or within the UK. It is possible for someone to be a victim, even if they have consented to being moved. Children cannot give consent - therefore the element of coercion or deception does not need to be present for an offence to have been committed. Commonly, people are trafficked into forced labour such as agriculture, construction, hospitality, manufacturing, car washes and sexual exploitation. 3

Modern Slavery Act 2015 The Act is designed to tackle slavery and human trafficking. It outlines the requirements of organisations, along with details of when an offence is committed. An offence is committed if: ◈ ◈ ◈ A person knows or ought to know that they are holding someone in slavery. A person requires another person to perform forced or compulsory labour and they know or ought to know that this is occuring. A person arranges or facilitates the travel of another person who is being transported for the purpose of exploitation. Depending on its nature and severity, the maximum penalty for an offence under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 can be life imprisonment. 4

Types of modern slavery ◈ ◈ ◈ Sex work, including trafficking and exploitation Forced labour Rural labour Illegal drug cultivation e. g. cannabis farming Domestic servitude Organ harvesting Child related crimes, including child sexual exploitation Forced begging Organised theft Forced marriage Illegal adoption 5

Criminal Exploitation DEFINITION: where criminal gangs take advantage of vulnerable people and force them to engage in various forms of criminal activity Examples of criminal exploitation include cannabis cultivation, fraud, pick pocketing etc. Child Criminal Exploitation DEFINITION: where young people and children under the age of 18 are coerced, forced or encouraged to participate in criminal activity or violence. An example of CCE would be ‘county lines’ where young people are used to transport drugs from central hubs like London, to towns like Worthing. 6

What could we mean when we refer to ‘exploitation’? ◈ ◈ ◈ Sexual exploitation Drug exploitation Criminal exploitation Ideological exploitation Human trafficking and modern slavery Exploitation occurs within: ◈ ◈ ◈ Serious Organised Crime (“SOC”) County Lines Gang activity 7

27, 000 The estimated number of children in gangs, as reported by the Children’s Commissioner. 2, 000 The estimated number of active county lines in the UK. 8

West Sussex Data SEXUAL EXPLOITATION ◈ ◈ CRIMINAL EXPLOITATION 162 identified in 2018. Boys and girls from 11+ Links to London via rail networks. Models used to exploit young people: boyfriend, party and peer on peer. ◈ ◈ ◈ 52 identified in 2018. Mostly boys. Girls asked to conceal drugs. Links with SOC and County Lines. Perpetrators are also victims. 13, 000 children and adults are estimated to be trafficked into the UK every year. Between 2001 and 2017, 52% of all terrorism related arrests were of people under the age of 30. 125 were under the age of 18 at the time of their arrest. 9

Agencies working with exploited young people When a young person is known or suspected to be exploited in any way it is important that all agencies involved: ◈ ◈ See the young person as a victim; they cannot be responsible for their actions. Escalate and raise concerns appropriately. Internal procedures should be followed. Work together. Multi-agency work is instrumental in safeguarding a young person at risk. That means information needs to be shared regularly. Encourage the wider community to recognise and report any concerns they may have. A local community may notice that a young person is at risk of exploitation before professionals are able to. ALWAYS make a MASH referral if you know or suspect that a young person is being exploited. Reporting information is at the end of the slideshow. 10

Agencies who could be involved in one case of exploitation Social Care Schools Police YOS YOUNG PERSON Licensing Sexual Health Housing Transport CAMHS 11

Vulnerability & Risk Factors CHAOTIC FAMILY BACKGROUND NOT REGULARLY ATTENDING SCHOOL LIVING IN GANG AFFECTED NEIGHBOURHOOD ALCOHOL/SUBSTANCE MISUSE LOOKED AFTER CHILD/YOUNG CARER MISSING EPISODES DOMESTIC ABUSE TRANSIENT LIFESTYLE CHILDHOOD NEGLECT/ABUSE SOCIAL ISOLATION HOMELESS/INSECURE HOUSING 12

Appearance: what might you see? The young person might: ◈ Suddenly change their taste in dress or music. They might restrict their clothing to a certain colour, brand or style associated with a particular gang or group. ◈ Look tired or unwell, e. g. falling asleep at school. ◈ Have marks or scars on their body which they try to hide. ◈ Have injuries to their hands, neck, legs, buttocks or genitals. ◈ Wear a lot more make-up. They may appear overly made up or use make-up to hide their face. ◈ Be unable to make or hold eye contact. 13

Behaviour: what might you see? The young person might: ◈ Become especially secretive. ◈ Stop seeing their usual friends and change their peer group. ◈ Develop severe mood swings. ◈ Develop relationships with older men/women. ◈ Start having missing episodes from home, or be reluctant to say where they have been. ◈ Have new, expensive items that they usually wouldn’t be able to afford, e. g. mobile phones, jewellery, trainers, clothes. ◈ Truant from school, or experience a change in performance at school. ◈ Self-harm. 14

Communication: what might you see? The young person might: ◈ Start using different language to normal. ◈ Refer to themselves using a ‘street’ name or nickname. ◈ Change the way they communicate with you, e. g. withdrawn, aggressive, tearful. ◈ Receive more text messages or calls than usual. ◈ Become possessive and protective of their mobile phone - they must be with it at all times. ◈ Receive phone calls late at night. ◈ Appear scared, worried or upset after receiving a call or text. ◈ Talk about new religions or socio-political issues more than they usually would. 15

Early Intervention Project (“EIP”) The Early Intervention Project is a multi-agency meeting, run by Adur & Worthing Councils. The agencies involved nominate young people who may be displaying some of the risk and vulnerability factors mentioned on the previous slide. At the EIP, we discuss: ◈ ◈ ◈ Any young person who has been arrested or stopped by police in the last two weeks. Any young person who we consider to be at risk of being exploited. ASB hotspots where there may be reports of youth issues and/or concerns. We look to find ways to support the young person. This can include home visits, more integrated work between agencies, and group workshops. The agencies currently involved include police, schools, IPEH, charities, youth groups, GTR, BTP etc. We always welcome new agency involvement. 16

Example: County Lines Exploitation ◈ Teenage boy ◈ At grammar school ◈ Academically successful ◈ Family background - Mum in police, Dad in well respected job, younger sister ◈ Made new friends ◈ Started going out at strange times, became secretive and was hiding things in bedroom ◈ Running county lines ◈ Got into trouble with a rival gang ◈ Ended up being stabbed 18 times 17

Cuckooing DEFINITION: where criminal gangs target the homes of vulnerable people to be used for drug dealing. ◈ ◈ A vulnerable person’s home is often used, against their will, to the advantage of others who are using alcohol or using/dealing drugs in the property. Often, the drug gangs will offer free drugs to the occupant of the property. The use and/or threat of physical or sexual violence is used to coerce the victim. Those who are cuckooed are not always substance users. They could be vulnerable because of their age, gender, disability, health or lack of support network. 18

6 The number of cuckooing properties in Adur & Worthing that we are aware of any given time. 19

Possible signs of cuckooing ◈ ◈ ◈ ◈ An increase in visitors to the property, especially during the night. Lots of different vehicles parking outside the property. A possible increase in anti-social behaviour activity in and around the property. The occupant may disengage from services and there could be a reluctance to receive professionals at the home address. Professionals visiting the home may become aware of new and/or different people in the property with no real reason or explanation for them to be there. The behaviour of the occupant may change significantly; they may become withdrawn, anxious, aggressive, frustrated etc. The state of the property, both inside and outside, deteriorates. For example, an increase in waste and rubbish. 20

Professional considerations THE OCCUPANT ◈ ◈ ◈ Does the individual understand what is happening? Have they been cuckooed before? Is the individual in danger and experiencing abuse? Are they vulnerable? Do they require referral to services due to possible mental and/or physical health related issues? Are they engaged with drugs and alcohol services? Is further support needed for them? If so, what? YOU ◈ ◈ ◈ Are you safe to be in the environment on your own? Have you shared your concerns with other relevant agencies and professionals? Do you know which other agencies may already be involved? 21

Adur & Worthing Approach ◈ ASBRAC ◈ JAG ◈ EIP ◈ Training taxi drivers ◈ Drug litter reporting ◈ Multi-agency work: police, schools, YOS, social work (children and adult), housing associations, charities etc. ◈ Youth interventions ◈ Improving local knowledge: approaching businesses, Airbnb hosts etc. 22

MASH ◈ ◈ 01403 229900 (office hours) MASH@westsussex. gcsx. gov. uk 0330 222 6664 (out of office) www. westsussexscb. org. uk Thanks! Any questions? Sophie Whitehouse sophie. whitehouse@adur-worthing. gov. uk @sophie_aw 23