New text service to help victims of modern slavery will launch next year

Modern slavery victims will be able send text messages to raise the alarm about their plight through a new helpline.

The service, announced today by Home Secretary Theresa May, will provide a central point of contact for people affected by servitude, human trafficking and forced labour.

Inspired by a facility in the United States, it is hoped the helpline will boost authorities’ attempts to identify victims of modern slavery and catch more perpetrators.

Mrs May (pictured) announced plans for the helpline, which will be launched next year and run by a British charity, following a meeting on the issue with US attorney general Loretta Lynch at the American Embassy in London.

She said: “Slavery is real and it is happening today.We must learn from each other which is what we are here today to do.

“We know that modern slavery remains a largely hidden crime and more must be done to shine a light on what is taking place.

“Modern slavery is a scourge on our society. By working together, governments, NGOs, law enforcement agencies and businesses can shine a light on this issue and help stop ruthless criminals profiting from their trade in human misery.

“The United Kingdom and the United States share a determination to free victims and ensure those guilty of this despicable crime are swiftly brought to justice.”

The new enhanced helpline will allow victims to call or text a number to seek help in a number of different languages, while members of the public will also be able to report suspicions.

Specially trained operators will then refer calls to appropriate services and authorities.

The service has been developed through a partnership between the Home Office and US charity Polaris, with £1 million funding from Google.org to cover start-up costs.

It will be modelled on a national hotline run by Polaris in America which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with operators answering calls in more than 200 languages and connecting victims to their closest rescue and support services.

Sophisticated software is then used to analyse data gathered during the calls and generate intelligence to help police target offenders.

More than 21,000 human trafficking cases have been reported to the facility in the last eight years.

The organisation chosen to run the UK helpline will be advised by Polaris, whose chief executive Bradley Myles said: “Human trafficking is a global business that requires a global response so the millions of people exploited by this crime can receive the help and support they need no matter where they are in the world.

“The launch of an enhanced modern slavery helpline for the UK is a critical step forward in this effort.”

Home Office estimates suggest there are up to 13,000 victims of modern slavery in the UK.

However, last year only 2,340 people were referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), a framework established to identify victims and ensure they receive appropriate support.

Earlier this year anti-slavery commissioner Kevin Hyland warned that too few victims are being identified, while those who are receive a “morally unacceptable” response.

He also called for more perpetrators to be caught.

In 2014/15, the Crown Prosecution Service flagged 187 prosecutions as involving human trafficking offences, with 130 cases leading to conviction. Last year, there were 39 convictions for slavery and human trafficking as a “principal offence”.

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