Signs of modern slavery
People who are victims of modern slavery may show the following signs
Physical or psychological abuse
They may have injuries, look malnourished or unkempt, or appear withdrawn, scared or frightened.
Isolation
They may rarely be allowed to travel on their own, rarely interact with others, or appear unfamiliar with their neighbourhood or where they work.
Monitoring
An unknown person may appear to be monitoring their movements or controlling them in some way. This may include being collected and dropped off at work each day.
Poor living conditions
They may be living in dirty, cramped or overcrowded accommodation, and/or living and working at the same address.
Few or no personal effects
They may have no identification documents (including access to their passport), have few personal possessions, and always wear the same clothes. Their clothes may not be suitable for the work they are doing or for the season/weather. They may not have been provided with the appropriate personal protective equipment linked to the work they are doing, such as safety gloves, goggles or boots.
Reluctance to seek help
They may avoid eye contact, appear frightened or hesitant to talk to strangers, and fear law enforcers for many reasons, such as not knowing who to trust or where to get help, fear of deportation, or fear of violence to them or their family.