Figures showing the huge scale of human trafficking in Britain are “shocking but not surprising”, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW) has said.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) has warned that “modern slavery” is now far more widespread than first thought with thousands of people being forced to live and work in illegal conditions in "every large town and city in the country".
The NCA said previous estimates of between 10,000 and 13,000 victims of human trafficking in Britain were just the "tip of the iceberg", with 300 live police investigations into suspected cases being conducted at any one time.
There were 3,805 people reported as potential victims in 2016 – compared to 1,745 in 2013.
Will Kerr, the NCA’s director of vulnerabilities, said: “The growing body of evidence we are collecting points to the scale being far larger than anyone had previously thought.”
Many victims, including children, are being trafficked by international gangs for use in prostitution or as forced labour in various industries, including food processing, fishing, domestic service and car washes, according to the NCA.
In a statement, the CBCEW said Catholics in parishes across the country had long been the “eyes and ears” for the police and other authorities fighting against the illegal trade in human beings.
A CBCEW spokesman said the Church was trying to address the problem via the Santa Marta Group, an international alliance of police chiefs and Catholic bishops working together with civil society against human trafficking. This includes establishing networks of police, church representatives and community leaders in areas of the UK, and in specific industries, where human trafficking is a particular problem.
"Pope Francis has called for increased efforts and greater commitment in the fight against human trafficking,” the CBCEW spokesman said. "The Santa Marta Group continues to build an alliance of police chiefs and bishops from around the world, who, working together with civil society, are engaged in the fight against human trafficking and modern day slavery.
“Universal commitment is needed to put an end to this vile trade."
The Bishops’ Conference said it was placing a special emphasis on raising awareness among groups in Britain deemed most vulnerable to human trafficking, including the Nigerian, Polish, Lithuanian, Slovak and Romanian communities.
Training is also being provided in parishes, schools and hospitals, “to alert people to the signs and symptoms of modern day slavery,” the CBCEW spokesman said.
Information and helpline numbers are being distributed to vulnerable groups within parishes by chaplains and diocesan safeguarding officers who speak different languages.
In addition, safe houses run by nuns, partners of the church and charities are providing pastoral care for victims. This includes Caritas Bakhita House in the Diocese of Westminster, which provides support for female trafficking victims.
The Santa Marta Group is also working to tackle trafficking at source in victims’ home countries through building partnerships with the police and local bishops’ conferences.
Representatives are meeting, for example, with Church leaders and police in Nigeria where Santa Marta is planning to launch an awareness-raising programme in Edo State run by religious sisters.
Meanwhile, the Church of England has announced the launch in October, of the Clewer Initiative, a three year project designed to enable Anglican dioceses to respond to trafficking in their local communities.
Philippa Rowen, Chaplain to the Bishop of Derby, said this includes “identifying resources that can be utilised, developing partnerships with others, and creating a wider network of advocates seeking to end modern slavery together.”
She said churches have run English classes for survivors and joined with other Christian denominations to raise awareness of the issue.
Loading ...
