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And we're finally live! 'An Unbroken chain', the first investigation since I took up the editor role at @JPIMediaData, examines slavery in the UK almost six years after the Modern Slavery Act. I'm so proud of the package our team has put together. Amazing work by .... 1/
@MichaelHolmes05 @conor_matchett @ICipirska @Phil_Bradfield @dhayes_news and a special shout out to @EJShone93 and @millie_salkeld who were brand new to the team with me and have done a fantastic job. #AnUnbrokenChain 2/
Here follows a very long thread of links of what we've been up to the past few months. We started with the data - how successful have the police been at tackling modern slavery since 2015? The answer - not very. Charges in fewer than one in 20 cases. https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/crime/more-1000-slavery-and-trafficking-crimes-west-yorkshire-unsolved-modern-slavery-act-passed-3133645
The @cpsuk too has been accused of failing on modern slavery, losing four out of five cases it's taken to court - already a fraction of the cases investigated. https://www.lep.co.uk/news/crime/crown-prosecution-service-failing-modern-slavery-one-five-suspects-walk-free-court-charity-warns-3130205
There's huge disparities between police forces. Here @MichaelHolmes05 talks to the most successful, @LancsPolice, who bring charges in almost a third of cases, where others have a charge rate of <1% - or 0% in the case of Gwent Police https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/crime/we-think-outside-box-how-lancashires-exploitation-squad-successfully-tackles-sex-trafficking-and-modern-slavery-3130249
Here @ICipirska looks at the arduous process victims have to go through when they are referred to the National Referral Mechanism https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/crime/what-happens-victims-modern-slavery-3130354
And here's how many were referred last year - an increase, despite fears the pandemic is pushing victims further underground https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/crime/almost-30-modern-slavery-victims-found-every-day-uk-last-year-figures-reveal-3130348
@millie_salkeld spoke to the Children's Commissioner about vulnerable kids and county lines gangs, with British children making up an increasingly large chunk of slavery referrals in recent years https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/crime/portsmouth-sex-trafficking-survivor-says-interventions-may-have-helped-childrens-comissioner-calls-earlier-action-3131875
While @MichaelHolmes05 examines the role of adult services websites such as VivaStreet and Adultwork in the sexual exploitation of women. The @NCA_UK says it's surprised if it investigates a trafficking gang and finds them not using the websites. https://www.wigantoday.net/news/crime/town-one-week-only-how-crime-gangs-are-using-legal-adult-websites-sell-their-victims-and-why-vice-squads-back-them-3130330
@EJShone93 looked into what is happening to detained migrants, with evidence the Home Office may have allowed thousands of people - including children - to pass through detention centres during the pandemic without assessing slavery and trafficking risks https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/crime/home-offices-hostile-environment-steroids-sees-failure-check-detained-migrants-signs-slavery-and-trafficking-3130282
He also spoke to author @emilykenway about the research for her recent book on modern slavery. She says we're headed for a "perfect storm" driven by climate change, post-Covid economic instability and Brexit. https://www.lep.co.uk/news/crime/how-uk-headed-perfect-storm-human-trafficking-according-author-truth-about-modern-slavery-3130344
Similar concerns were raised by the @NCA_UK, which warns Brexit could even lead to a rise in deaths if there is increased use of risky clandestine human smuggling methods https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/crime/upside-covid-and-downside-brexit-when-it-comes-human-trafficking-3130265
We've also uncovered evidence the UK is failing in its legal duty to ensure victims can access compensation to help them rebuild their lives, with exclusive FOIs https://www.wigantoday.net/news/crime/uk-failing-legal-duty-provide-compensation-modern-slavery-victims-3130379
Here's the experiences of one survivor of human trafficking, who @dhayes_news spoke to, who had rebuilt his life with the help of @CityHearts https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/crime/my-life-has-changed-completely-how-one-modern-slavery-victim-escaped-his-captors-and-rebuilt-his-life-3130394
Analysis of open data collected by @tiscreport shows two-thirds of councils are using suppliers who do not comply with the Modern Slavery Act https://www.garstangcourier.co.uk/news/crime/two-three-councils-using-suppliers-who-are-not-complying-modern-slavery-act-3134683
So, what can be done about all of this? Well, 5 charities have joined our call for the @CommonsHomeAffs chaired by @YvetteCooperMP to resume its abandoned inquiry into slavery. They are @HumanTraffFdn @UnseenUK @FocusOnLabour @AfterExpProject @Hestia1970 https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/crime/urgent-call-charities-parliament-resume-modern-slavery-inquiry-address-concerns-over-brexit-and-covid-3130403
Government also needs to make big improvements to its data collection on modern slavery, as recommended in the 2019 review of the Act it commissioned but has not acted on. The @RoyalStatSoc says good data is vital to understanding if legislation has worked https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/crime/opinion-how-lack-data-modern-slavery-stops-us-scrutinising-government-and-hurts-victims-3130405
There'll be plenty more local coverage in @JPIMediaLtd titles in the coming days and weeks, and in our Northern Ireland and Scotland titles (keep an eye on @conor_matchett and @Phil_Bradfield) where legislation is slightly different but the same issues are evident
And myself and @EJShone93 will this week host the first @JPIMediaData podcast - Uncovered - so tune in later on in the week to hear more analysis and interviews. #AnUnbrokenChain
