Back to STOP THE TRAFFIK

Back To STOP THE TRAFFIK

Sense it. Spot it.

Domestic Servitude

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Count the signs. If you see one or more of these signs at a property consider making a referral to the appropriate organisation. Alongside these specific signs can you identify any signs that suggest movement, recruitment, deception, coercion or exploitation?

What is domestic servitude?

Someone held in domestic servitude is held within the employer's home and could be forced to provide household errands from care for children and/or elderly dependents, cleaning, cooking, taking care of the laundry, shopping for food and gardening. 


  • At the property

  • Question it

Back up

Dig deeper

Hours

Does the person appear to be working in excess of normal hours or are they "on-call" 24 hours per day?

Nationality

Is the person from an African country? Typically domestic servants will be women from Africa but this is not exclusive. Cases of young boys are not uncommon.

Freedom

Does the person ever leave the house without their employer present?

Children

If the person is allowed out of the house, is it only to take the children to school?

Accommodation

Does the person appear to have makeshift or inappropriate sleeping arrangements? It will often be on a sofa, in a cubby holes, under the stairs, in the children's bedrooms or even on the kitchen floor.

Eating

Does the person eat alone and are they given the family's leftovers? Poor diet is not uncommmon.

Interaction

Does the person interact much with the family? A servant typically wouldn't.

Abuse

Is there any indication that the person has been subject to abuse, insults, threats or violence?

School

If they are a child or minor is there any concern about their attendance at school or age-appropriate time given to play?

Documents

Is the person in possession of their legal documents? They may be held by the employer.

Conspiring

If the servant is working for a husband and wife, are they both aware of the situation? Typically all parties would be.

Communication

Are the communications the person is allowed to have restricted by the employer?

Self Esteem

Is the person lacking self esteem or do they seem quite anxious?

hover over boxes to reveal the signs


If a child or adult is in immediate danger call 999.

  • Police

    Share what you have identified with your local police force.

  • Victim Support

    Support, advice and services available for potential adult trafficking cases.

  • Children's Services

    Advice and information on what to do and who to contact when a case involves a child.

  • Immigration Support

    Advice for cases where the potential victim may need immigration support.


    • The Police

    If the person's life is in immediate danger then you should call the police straight away.


    Phone: 999

    Website: www.police.uk

    Local Police

    If the potential victim is in a situation that needs intervention then you should call your local police.

    Calls to 101 are a fixed rate of 15p per call, you will be redirected to the relevant place.


    Phone: 101

    Metropolitan Police

    The metropolitan police have a 24hour helpline for Victims and those who suspect trafficked victims are living in their community.


    Phone: 0800 783 25 89

    Website: www.met.police.uk

    Crimestoppers

    Call Crimestoppers if you would like to make an anonymous report of any information you have surrounding human trafficking.


    Phone: 0800 555 111

    Website: www.crimestoppers-uk.org


    Salvation Army

    The Salvation Army is responsible for delivering the UK government's contract to manage support services for adult female and male victims of Human Trafficking. Their confidential referral helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.


    Phone: 0300 303 81 51

    E-mail: info@salvationarmy.org.uk

    Website: www.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/Trafficking

    Migrant Help

    Migrant Help is responsible for support services for adult female and male victims of Human Trafficking. For cases in Scotland and NI they are a primary contact. Available 24 hours a day. They are a first responder for the NRM.


    Phone: 01304 203 977 or 07766 668 781

    E-mail: info@migranthelpuk.org

    Website: www.migranthelpuk.org

    TARA

    The Scottish Government provides funding to TARA (the Trafficking Awareness Raising Alliance) to provide support to women, over 18 yrs, trafficked (or potentially trafficked) for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation, recovered across Scotland.


    Phone: 0141 276 77 24

    POPPY Project

    The Poppy Project provides support, advocacy and accommodation to trafficked women. They are a first responder for the NRM.


    Phone: 020 7735 2062 (ask for the POPPY Project duty worker)

    E-mail: post@eavesforwomen.org.uk

    Website: www.eavesforwomen.org.uk/about-eaves/our-projects/the-poppy-project

    Kalayaan

    Provide advice, advocacy and support services in the UK for migrant domestic workers. They are a first responder for the NRM.


    Phone: 0207 243 2942

    E-mail: info@kalayaan.org.uk

    Website: www.kalayaan.org.uk

    Medaille Trust

    Help women, young men and children who have been freed from human-trafficking. They provide safe housing and offer opportunities for physical and psychological healing and rehabilitation. They are a first responder for the NRM.


    E-mail: enquiries@medaille-trust.org.uk

    Website: www.medaille.co.uk

    Unseen UK

    Unseen runs secure accommodation for women of 18 years and over who are classified as survivors/victims of human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation and domestic servitude. They are a first responder for the NRM.


    E-mail: www.unseenuk.org/about/get-in-touch

    Website: www.unseenuk.org


    NSPCC / CTAC

    NSPCC National Child Trafficking Advice Centre (CTAC) provides information and advice to any professional working with children or young people who may have been trafficked into the UK. Available Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4.30pm. They are a first responder for the NRM.


    Phone: 0808 800 5000

    E-mail: help@nspcc.org.uk

    Website: www.nspcc.org.uk/ctac

    Children's Services

    Your Local Authority's Children's Services are responsible for all cases that involve children.

    Your Local Authority has a general duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in need in your area, regardless of their immigration status. They have responsibilities for unaccompanied children, as well as those who arrive in the UK with their parents and about whose safety and welfare there are concerns.

    If you feel your local Children's Services would benefit from advice on how to respond to child trafficking cases recommend they contact NSPCC CTAC or ECPAT.

     


    E-mail: www.gov.uk/find-your-local-council

    ECPAT

    End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT) research, campaign and lobby government to prevent child exploitation and protect children in tourism and child victims of trafficking. They provide training on safeguarding children from trafficking.

    Read this page on their website which provides guidance for professionals working with children who may have been trafficked.

     


    Phone: 0207 233 9887

    E-mail: info@ecpat.org.uk

    Website: www.ecpat.org.uk


    Anti Trafficking Legal Project

    ATLeP is a network of solicitors, barristers and specialist practitioners who advise, represent and support victims of trafficking and other vulnerable people.


    E-mail: www.atlep.org.uk/contact

    Website: www.atlep.org.uk

    AIRE Centre

    The AIRE Centre promotes awareness of European law rights and assist marginalised individuals and those in vulnerable circumstances to assert those rights.


    Phone: 0207 831 4276

    E-mail: info@airecentre.org

    Website: www.airecentre.org

    Migrant's Rights Network

    Organisation working and campaigning in support of migrants in the UK.


    Phone: 0207 336 9412

    E-mail: info@migrantsrights.org.uk

    Website: www.migrantsrights.org.uk