Cardinal Vincent Nichols has warned that the number of victims of modern slavery is much higher that has so far been estimated and is “increasing all of the time around us.”
His comments echo those of the UK’s first Independent Anti-Slavery Commission, Kevin Hyland, who argues in the commission’s annual report, published this week, that the official estimate of 13,000 victims of slavery is “far too modest” and that the true number is in “tens of thousands.”
The cardinal, who was speaking ahead of anti-slavery day last Wednesday, said that law enforcement and statutory agencies are identifying that the scale of trafficking is much bigger than previously believed.
“Eradicating human trafficking and modern slavery is a major challenge and the necessary cooperation and collaboration both internationally and locally to achieve this needs to be stepped up. That is why initiatives that seek to promote the safety and well-being of every victim of human trafficking, the enhancement of law enforcement and the strengthening of legal frameworks within which this work is carried out is both needed and to be welcomed,” he said.
Cardinal Nichols’ comments came as the Church of England launched a new diocesan wide project to fight modern slavery, the Clewer Initiative.
Both the Prime Minister, Theresa May and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, have given their backing to the Initiative, which aims to mobilise the Church of England’s 12,000 parishes. Work is already under way in dioceses with training and information sessions on how to provide support and identify victims of labour exploitation in areas such as the construction and property sectors and the shipping industry.
The Anglican Bishop of Derby, Alastair Redfern, who chairs the anti-slavery commissioner’s advisory panel, told The Tablet: “Pope Francis coined a key phrase – the globalisation of indifference. The problem is that people don’t notice what’s taking place on their doorstep.” He gave examples such as hand car washes, cheap clothing and nails bars and in his diocese, in the Peak District, and “pop up” brothels in holiday cottages: “The churches are on the front line and have a role in telling people how to look and how to notice.”
Bishop Redfern works closely with Cardinal Nichols and Bishop Patrick Lynch of Southwark, the Catholic Church's lead bishop on migration.
Speaking to The Tablet, Bishop Lynch said that Catholic dioceses also had enormous opportunities to detect modern slavery through the contacts made by ethnic chaplains, Caritas and the St Vincent de Paul Society: “We work with our chaplains who hear the stories first hand. We have to make it clear to people that they should come forward and share their experience,” he said.
PICTURE: Two officers from British Transport Police talk to a young passenger while taking part in operation Limelight at the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras International in London, which is aimed at safeguarding children and vulnerable people from harmful practices and human trafficking.
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