At Leapwise, we’re lucky to draw on a wide network of experienced Associates ranging from leadership consultants and senior ex-government officials to former operational police leaders, who can support our client work.
In this associates blog, one member of our network shares their expertise directly with you. Paul Griffiths is a recently retired senior police officer with over 30 years of operational, investigative, and organisational experience in policing.
During his career, Paul was heavily involved in the response to modern slavery, leading one of the largest modern slavery investigations in the UK and serving as the Senior Investigating Officer on the case that secured the first conviction for forced labour in Wales. From 2019 to 2022, he served as the President of the Police Superintendents’ Association, where he continued to raise awareness on vulnerability.
Paul offers a unique insight into the on-the-ground reality of policing modern slavery and shares his views on how to build a stronger policing response.
Building a Stronger Response to Modern Slavery – Leapwise Associate Paul Griffiths’ view
In 2013, while serving as a Detective Superintendent at Gwent Police I was handed a case that quickly became the largest modern slavery inquiry in the UK at the time, changing perceptions of the prevalence and risk of modern slavery. Darrell Simester had been missing for 13 years, forced to work on a farm in South Wales.
The case quickly opened up multiple lines of inquiry that extended far beyond Gwent’s jurisdiction and even crossed UK borders. Around 300 officers were involved in the case at some point and around 140 potential victims were identified. In the end, five investigations were conducted involving six victims alleging over 75 years of forced labour. The whole inquiry led to the first prosecution in Wales for forced labour under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. A total of five offenders received custodial sentences.
Following the case, I travelled around the UK, presenting it to half of the UK’s police forces to raise awareness of modern slavery. I collaborated with the Welsh Government, the Modern Slavery Unit at the Home Office and the House of Lords to highlight how this crime manifests. This case marked a significant shift in perception for both responders and the public. It was the first high-profile case that highlighted the occurrence of modern slavery in the UK where it was perpetrated by British people against other British people.
Navigating a World of Increasing Public Protection Issues
Over the years, the policing response to issues of vulnerability and public protection has significantly improved, with a greater emphasis on understanding and addressing the complexities of these crimes within the public protection space. Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking (MSHT) is a particularly complex crime that not only involves economic exploitation but also represents a serious violation of human rights. The nature of MSHT means it often leaves traces through various contacts and interactions, which can be crucial for investigations. These traces can be meticulously analysed to uncover the networks and operations behind the crime. Additionally, tackling MSHT may require the use of covert tactics to effectively gather evidence and protect victims.
The evolution of policing strategies, including enhanced training and inter-agency collaboration, has been pivotal in improving the response to such intricate and severe crimes, ensuring better protection for vulnerable individuals and more robust public safety measures. Modern slavery is a heinous crime that demands focused efforts and determination to enhance the response. However, it is important to recognise that this crime exists within the broader context of increasing demands on policing.
Today, policing operates in a more complex world with evolving public protection priorities and diminished resources. This reality underscores the need for a multifaceted approach to effectively combat modern slavery, while addressing the broader challenges faced by law enforcement.
4 considerations for building a stronger response to MSHTMSHT
Below, I highlight four key areas that I believe policing, criminal justice partners and policymakers need to focus on to improve the response to modern slavery.
Lesson 1: Mastering the Basics on the Frontline Response
Modern slavery is often ‘hidden in plain sight’, making it challenging to identify due to the complexities of exploitation and coercion. Victim vulnerability further complicates detection, as victims may not even recognise themselves as victims. The default response in uncertain situations can often be to say nothing, but this needs to change. Implementing an effective, yet simple, response is crucial.
The ‘4 Rs’ model is an effective framework for mastering the basics of identifying and addressing MSHT.
- Recognise: Education and experience are key to recognising the signs of modern slavery. Training frontline officers to identify indicators of exploitation and coercion is essential.
- Respond: Safeguarding victims should be the immediate response. Ensuring that victims are protected, and their needs are addressed is a priority.
- Report: Knowing who to pass the information on to is critical. This could be the Criminal Investigation Department or a relevant specialised team.
- Refer: Referring the case to the appropriate agency, such as the National Referral Mechanism or NGOs, ensures that victims receive the support and protection they need.
By getting the basic frontline response right, we can make significant strides in combating MSHT, and indeed other areas of public protection, and provide the necessary support to victims.
Lesson 2: Demarcate Organised Immigration Crime and Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking
Over the past few years Organised Immigration Crime (OIC) and MSHT have become conflated. OIC typically focuses on people smuggling, which is a crime against the border (because those being smuggled have travelled willingly). Trafficking, however, is a serious crime against a person. Victims can be and are trafficked within the UK; it does not have to involve crossing international borders. While OIC can put people at risk of MSHT, MSHT is a much broader concept that encompasses various forms of exploitation, including criminal exploitation, sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, domestic servitude and organ trafficking. These crimes extend far beyond immigration-related crimes.
The conflation and resulting confusion between OIC and MSHT have negatively impacted the response to MSHT. Funding streams have been reallocated from MSHT to OIC, diverting resources away from addressing modern slavery. Additionally, this confusion has increased the risk of victims being misidentified as perpetrators of OIC rather than being recognised as victims of MSHT.
By clearly demarcating OIC and MSHT, we can ensure that resources are appropriately allocated and that the unique aspects of each crime are effectively addressed. This distinction is crucial for developing targeted strategies and providing the necessary support to victims.
Lesson 3: Address the Lack of Strategy
The response to modern slavery has been hindered by the absence of an updated national strategy. Since 2014, the clarity of strategic direction has diminished, leading to a fragmented and ineffective response by the multiple agencies operating within this space. Without a cohesive and updated strategy, efforts to combat modern slavery have become disjointed, reducing their overall impact.
Developing and implementing an updated, comprehensive strategy is essential for coordinating efforts across agencies and ensuring a unified approach to tackling modern slavery. This will provide clear guidance and direction, enabling more efficient and effective responses to this complex crime.
Lesson 4: Integrate MSHT within Public Protection Priorities
Modern slavery intersects with various public protection issues, such as Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and child criminal exploitation, which is a form of MSHT. Over the years, there has been increasing prioritisation of these issues, sometimes overshadowing the focus on MSHT. However, it is crucial to recognise that modern slavery often overlaps with these areas and requires equal attention.
By aligning efforts and recognising the interconnectedness of these issues, we can develop a more robust and comprehensive system to address modern slavery effectively.
Building resilience in the face of modern slavery
The policing world is different now, with a much greater focus on public protection and vulnerability. MSHT is the most extreme violation of vulnerability, making it essential to build resilience within our systems. We need to strive towards ensuring that those who are most vulnerable are not at risk of exploitation.
Building resilience involves creating robust support systems, enhancing training for frontline officers and responders, and fostering collaboration between agencies. Our strategies need to be comprehensive and inclusive of all forms of vulnerability.
By focusing on the four lessons and building resilience, we can create a stronger, more effective response to modern slavery, ultimately safeguarding those at risk and bringing perpetrators to justice.
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