Spot the signs posters & leaflets

We are delighted that you want to raise awareness of human trafficking.

Raising awareness is essential in the disruption and prevention of human trafficking. It enables people to know what human trafficking is, be able to spot the signs in their communities and work places and to know how to respond appropriately. It can help victims seek help and support. Thank you for supporting the fight against human trafficking.

Getting started

There are many forms of exploitation into which people can be trafficked and held in slavery. These crimes are happening in every corner of the world and can happen to any person, regardless of age, socio-economic background or location. As a result, each case can look very different.

We have created materials that will help you raise awareness of the most common forms of human trafficking and modern slavery.

The downloadable posters and leaflets highlight signs of exploitation to those who may be victims of trafficking and signpost them to organisations in the UK for help and support. Each poster and leaflet below has been created in a variety of languages for the most vulnerable communities.

Sexual Exploitation

Sexual exploitation is when someone is deceived, coerced or forced to take part in sexual activity. This can often take place in brothels, massage parlours and strip clubs.

Labour Exploitation

Labour exploitation refers to situations where people are deceived or coerced to work for little or no remuneration, often under threat of punishment. There are a number of means through which a person can be coerced, including: Use of violence or intimidation, accumulated debt, retention of identity papers, threat of exposure to immigration authorities.

The awareness raising materials for labour exploitation focus on high risk work places – agriculture, nail salons and car washes.

Domestic Servitude

A domestic worker or helper is a person who works within their employer’s home, performing a variety of tasks. This arrangement becomes exploitative when there are restrictions on the domestic worker’s movement, and they are forced to work long hours for little pay. They may also suffer physical and sexual abuse.

Places where someone can be in domestic servitude:

• In a private home
• In a community such as a commune

Forced Criminality

Forced criminality takes place when somebody is forced to carry out criminal activity through coercion or deception. Forced criminality can take many forms, including: drug trade, e.g. cannabis cultivation, drug distribution, begging, pick-pocketing, bag snatching, ATM theft and selling of counterfeit goods.

Forced criminality also encompasses social welfare fraud. This takes place when traffickers falsely apply for tax credits and other welfare benefits using the victims’ details. It is not only the state that is the victim of social welfare fraud, there is often horrific abuse used against the individual in order to coerce them into falsely applying for benefits.

County Lines

County Lines is a type of exploitation whereby gangs and organised networks force people to travel from urban areas to different locations to sell and deliver drugs.  Whilst anyone can be at risk, victims are predominantly children and young adults. 

Additional Resources

STOP THE TRAFFIK identified the forms of exploitation that are most commonly associated together. We have produced double sided leaflets for you to use for awareness raising. 

Forced Criminality & Agriculture

Sexual Exploitation & Domestic Servitude

Sexual Exploitation & Nail Salons

County Lines & Sexual Exploitation