More charges for modern slavery in East Lancashire

Figures obtained from Lancashire Police via a Freedom of Information request show that of the 744 arrests made across the county since 2015, when the Modern Slavery Act came into force, just 100 resulted in charges - 51 of those were against people in East Lancashire.

The data shows that between 2015 and 2023, there were 26 arrests for modern slavery made in Accrington, 120 in Blackburn, 62 in Burnley, 13 in Darwen, 19 in Nelson, and 10 in Rossendale, giving an overall total of 250 over eight years. 

In Preston, there were 130 arrests made between 2015 and 2023, and 180 in Blackpool.

A total of 184 arrests for modern slavery were made elsewhere in the county and surrounding areas.

However, of those 250 arrested in East Lancashire, just 51 were charged with the offence.

Two of those charges were in Accrington, 32 in Blackburn, 15 in Burnley, one in Darwen and one in Nelson.

Just 14 of the arrests made in Blackpool resulted in a charge, while only eight of the 130 arrests in Preston resulted in a charge.

The figures also show that arrests for modern slavery peaked between 2017 and 2021, with the most charges coming between these years as well.

In Lancashire as a whole, 94 arrests for modern slavery were made in 2017; 74 in 2018; 122 in 2019; 123 in 2020; and 121 in 2022.

In 2023, 77 people in Lancashire were apprehended by police for the offence.

What is modern slavery?

Modern slavery takes many forms but the most common are sexual exploitation, forced labour and domestic servitude.

Victims are forced to work in various settings such as brothels, cannabis farms, nail bars, car washes, agriculture, and even within people’s homes.

Human trafficking can also be a part of modern slavery as a person is moved from one place to another. This could be country to country, town to town, or even as simple as one room in a building to another. Even if a victim agrees to be moved, trafficking could still be taking place.

Modern slavery is a problem that affects all ages, genders, and ethnicities, and affects people from Britain and abroad with victims generally living in fear.

Modern slavery in Lancashire:

The data comes just days after the 20th anniversary of the Morecambe Bay cockle picking tragedy, which saw 23 Chinese cockle pickers drown as they were left stranded from incoming tides off Morecambe Bay.

The Salvation Army has helped to mark the anniversary by reinforcing the importance of spotting the signs of modern slavery.

During an event in Fleetwood on the evening of Monday, February 5, exactly 20 years on from the disaster, the church and charity organisation remembered the victims and their families by releasing a biodegradable Chinese lantern into the sky which included a message from survivors currently supported in the North West through its modern slavery services.

The names of each of the 23 victims were written on the lantern alongside the words: “To those whose flame has been extinguished, let this light represent our love and compassion… we will never forget you”.

Following this needless loss of life, important changes including the creation of the Gangmasters Labour Abuse Authority and the Modern Slavery Act (2015) were put in place, but the number of survivors of modern slavery being referred to The Salvation Army’s specialist support services continues to rise every year.

Recently, The Salvation Army published a report which showed the number of people being supported by its modern slavery services around the UK has increased in every region across England and Wales in the last year.

This includes North West England where 344 people were rescued and supported in safe houses and outreach services run by The Salvation Army with its partners.

This is an increase of 46 people on the previous year and amounted to 10 per cent of the total number of people referred from England and Wales.

Many had been forced to commit crimes, work against their will, or coerced into sex work.

The Salvation Army provides specialist support to protect and care for all adult survivors of modern slavery in England and Wales through a government contract which was first awarded in 2011.

The 2017 spike in arrests could be attributed to a series of raids across Lancashire in which eight people were arrested in relation to a nine-month probe into an organised 'Romanian crime group' centred on Blackburn.

It is thought the gang netted up to £1.3million, with police confirming that individual gang members are alleged to have made £600-per-day for each woman exploited.

READ MORE: Eight arrested in raids in Blackburn, Preston, Blackpool, Worcester and Northumbria in human trafficking operation

READ MORE: Human trafficking gang touted 11 women on 'Viva Street' website

In 2019 Lancashire Police featured in a documentary about human trafficking, and in 2020, eight further people were charged in connection with a major police investigation into sex trafficking.

In February and March of that year, officers launched Operation Brixton looking into the activities of a Romanian trafficking ring operating in Blackburn, Burnley and Preston.

READ MORE: Eight charged over human trafficking and prostitution ring in Blackburn and Burnley

In 2021, a man who trafficked a woman to the UK to work as a prostitute was jailed for 12 years.

What the police say:

A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: “This area of policing is complex and spotting modern slavery can be hard.

"In many cases organised crime groups are responsible for trafficking people into the UK.

“However, sometimes victims will travel into the UK by their own means (sometimes they're asked to by their families), expecting to start legal employment, unaware of the situation that awaits them.

"We are committed to preventing people from being trafficked by bringing those responsible to justice. To do this, we need your help.

"We want to raise awareness of this issue so that people will recognise the signs and report modern slavery."

Spot the signs of modern slavery:

Some signs are physical:

• They may look anxious, dishevelled, or malnourished.

• They may have untreated injuries.

Some signs are less obvious:

• Someone paying for their travel

• Someone speaking for them

• Perhaps they are picked up and dropped off from work at unusual times

• They may not be sure of their own address

Anyone who has any concerns, or intelligence to suggest modern slavery or human trafficking is happening in their communities, can contact the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700.

The Salvation Army’s free confidential 24/7 referral helpline 0800 808 3733 is available for anyone who suspects they or someone they have met may be a victim of modern slavery and needs help.