Modern-day slavery is not new, it has been happening in UK cities for years, and around the world. In fact, it is estimated that there are at least 40.3 million people worldwide are currently in enslaved, which is more than those exploited by the transatlantic slave trade.

The second lockdown in Leicester, as a result of the rising number of Covid-19 cases, revealed that during the lockdown, a textile factory or sweatshop continued to operate and exploit workers by paying them as little as 3.50 an hour.

The majority of those trapped in modern slavery endure appalling conditions, threats to their safety, restrictions on their freedom, and intimidation. In 2018, for example, modern slavery raids in Newham, Ilford and Barking revealed people living in highly overcrowded situations. 22 people were discovered living in a small, terraced house in Ilford. But this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committees 2019 report, Fixing Fashion: Clothing consumption and sustainability, reported the problem in Leicester stating: Leicester has the second-highest concentration of textile manufacturers in the country with 700 factories employing 10,000 textile workers. Unite the Union said that while the majority of the factories are compliant, there are a small number of factories which break the law to maximise profits.

For decades, various industry sectors have been a source of modern-day slavery, from the once-thriving rag trade in Brick Lane where Bangladesh garment workers worked in small dangerous factors for pittance, to current barbershops in Brent. In February this year, the Metropolitan Police investigated reports of human trafficking after concerns were raised about workers in barbershops in London. After visiting addresses in Brent, Barnet and Harrow, the suspected victims were taken to a receptions centre for support and medical treatment.

The pandemic has only further thrown light on a matter that has always been there, so why is it still happening?

Some people may ask why these people do not reach out for help. The simple answer is that they are afraid. Many of them have been lured to the UK under the promise of a better life than they have back home, dangling carrots of employment, money, food and accommodation. If they speak out, then they risk being sent back to a situation that may not be much better than that which they are currently enduring. Sometimes, the workers are driven into debt, hence tightening their employers hold over them.

The Salvation Army website shares victims stories, such as that of Ferda, who was trafficked to the UK from the Czech Republic after ending up on the streets following his wifes death. When he arrived in the UK, he was told that he had to pay back the cost of his travel, so most of his wage paid off his debt and the cost of his accommodation. He said: I was working 12 hours a day, six days a week for very little. When he was no longer able to work because of ill health, he was evicted and left on the streets.

As Christine Jardine, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson quite rightly said: "We have to be on our guard to ensure that the inexcusable scourge of modern slavery does not grow under cover of COVID-19. Sadly, as job losses due to the crisis mount, more and more people may be forced [to] accept underpaid jobs in unsafe conditions to avoid complete destitution if we do not act.

Celebrities, such as Kylie Jenner, who has been accused along with her sister, Kendall Jenner, of not paying Bangladesh factory workers during the pandemic (claims they strongly deny), should condemn modern-day slavery. These recent accusations aside, this isn't the first time one of the Jenners has been asked to handle the issue of modern slavery more sensitively, most notably after Kylie Jenner threw a Handmaids Tale themed party.

Consumers also have a responsibility not to support modern-day slavery. If, for example, you are buying a top for under 5, there is a high probability that it was made in a sweatshop.

NCA has launched a touring photographic exhibition which aims to portray the signs of slavery and exploitation. Entitled Invisible People, the exhibition will tour the country as part of the National Crime Agencys campaign to raise awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking.

National Crime Agency

Child trafficking for sexual exploitationTraffickers use grooming techniques to gain the trust of a child, family or community. The childrenare recruited, transported and then sold for sex, often returning to their homes immediately afterwards, only to be picked up by the same people again. This is happening here in the UK, to migrant and British-born children.Spot the signs of child trafficking:Often, children wont be sure which country, city or town theyre in.They may be orphaned or living apart from their family, in unregulated private foster care, or in substandard accommodation. They may possess unaccounted-for money or goods or repeatedly have new, unexplained injuries.

National Crime Agency

Some workers in the farming sector, harvesting grains or root vegetables, tending livestock or fruit picking, are being exploited every day in the UK.Victims of this crime in the agricultural sector are often Eastern European men and women, who were promised a job by traffickers, or they could be individuals on the fringes of society, homeless or destitute. Through threats, violence, coercion or forced drug and alcohol dependency, theyre enslaved, working for little or no money, living in squalid conditions having had their identity documents taken from them.Spot the signs of exploitative labour in agriculture:Agricultural slaves often have their wages paid into the same bank account, meaning an illegal gangmaster is likely collecting all their wages.Exploited agriculture workers often dont have suitable protective equipment, working instead in cheap sports clothing and trainers, and dont have a different change of clothes from day-to-day.

National Crime Agency

Polish or Slovakian men are brought to the UK with the offer of employment and, after arrival, gangmasters seize documents, opening multiple bank and utility accounts in their names butrefuse to handover access to the accounts or bank cards. Hours are long and the work is gruelling and dangerous. Workers are abused and are controlled by threats of harm to their families at home.Spot the signs:Those exploited wear inappropriate clothes and often no safety gear despite working with dangerous and life-threatening equipment. They may often have untreated injuries and be refused medical attention, and will live and work in agricultural outhouses.

National Crime Agency

Labour-intensive sectors like construction, where temporary and irregular work are common, are high-risk sectors for forced labour. With new homes, offices and buildings being constructed or upgraded in great quantity, labour exploitation is the second most common type of modern slavery, after sexual exploitation.Spot the signs of exploitative labour in construction:Exploited workers are often not provided with protective clothing or equipment, and may show signs of abuse or carry old untreated injuries.Slave workers are also likely to work extremely long work hours for six or seven days a week without any leave.Photographer Rory Carnegie, said: I wanted this image to communicate that despite being forced to live, eat, wash and sleep where theyre working, in cramped and unhygienic conditions, that there is a human instinct to domesticate. I wanted to show how there is still hope and dignity in the most squalid and difficult of circumstances.

National Crime Agency

In the tough maritime industry young men, often Filipino or Indian, Eastern European or African, are promised a better life, but instead find themselves in a cycle of debt and exploitation.Unable to read, they are offered a job, given papers to sign and begin working on a trial-basis, only to be told they have failed and owe money, and have to work more to settle the debt. They may be forced to work for long hours in intense, hazardous and difficult conditions.Photographer Rory Carnegie, said: In the 80s, Chris Killip published a series of images called In Flagrante, and these images were at the forefront of my mind while composing this shot. I wanted to show the utter desperation of these men - how passed their limit they are. The broken floats and the entire decaying environment around him, I saw as a metaphor for his existence.

Rory Carnegie/National Crime Agency

Each year, women from across Eastern Europe and West Africa are lured to the UK by the dream of a better life. Whether by fake migration services or unscrupulous individuals who befriend and then betray them, women fall into a dark spiral of sexual exploitation and forced, unpaid prostitution, unable to escape.Photographer Rory Carnegie, said: What I really wanted for this image, was to depict how women are used as commodities, the complete control slavery has over them the helplessness of having to sit and wait for man after man, until no more men arrive. I wanted the image to show how lonely and eventually numbing that experience is, and for that ugliness to be contrasted against the bright blue of the wig a fancy dress item that we would usually associate with a fun event but here is used as a disguise, perhaps of her own identity to herself - to further emphasise how unjust the situation is.

NCA

The cannabis industry hides a dark secret in the house next door. Gangs bring young boys to the UK from countries like Vietnam and deliver them to a house where, once in, they wont be able to leave. Forced to tend cannabis plants that fill specially rigged houses, the boys are often locked in and forced to work, sleep and eat in one confined and dirty room. The chemicals used on the cannabis are poisonous, and often victims dont know where they are or how to get help if they do escape. The eyes, ears and compassion of the local community are essential.Spot the signs:Aside from the strong and prolonged smell of cannabis, have you noticed a house that looks unusual? Are the windows covered or usual entry points blocked? Buildings might be over-heated in very cold weather is the roof without frost, because the house is being kept warm to grow plants

National Crime Agency

Some workers in the farming sector, harvesting grains or root vegetables, tending livestock or fruit picking, are being exploited every day in the UK.Victims of this crime in the agricultural sector are often Eastern European men and women, who were promised a job by traffickers, or they could be individuals on the fringes of society, homeless or destitute. Through threats, violence, coercion or forced drug and alcohol dependency, theyre enslaved, working for little or no money, living in squalid conditions having had their identity documents taken from them.Spot the signs of exploitative labour in agriculture:Agricultural slaves often have their wages paid into the same bank account, meaning an illegal gangmaster is likely collecting all their wages.Exploited agriculture workers often dont have suitable protective equipment, working instead in cheap sports clothing and trainers, and dont have a different change of clothes from day-to-day

National Crime Agency

Spot the signs of forced prostitution:Victims of this type of crime might appear withdrawn or scared, avoid eye contact, and be untrusting. Poor English language skills could indicate exploitation because it suggests someone else must be arranging the work. A brothel is likely to be an average house on a normal looking street, but may have curtains which are usually closed and many different men coming and going frequently.

National Crime Agency

Spot the signs of exploitative labour in the maritime sector:Victims might appear withdrawn or frightened, often unable to answer questions directed at them or speak for themselves,. They might be afraid of authorities like police, immigration or the tax office, and may perceive themselves to be in debt to someone else. They may not have been given proper protective equipment so can suffer illness or injury.Photographer Rory Carnegie, said: Throughout the series of images, I wanted to juxtapose the harshness of the lives of slaves against bright primary colours colours we traditionally associate with happiness or a feeling of wellbeing to provoke a reaction. The image, as rich as it is, communicates how completely uncomfortable this person is. I wanted to show how his body is not his own, and how he has no right to avoid hardship, avoid the ice, or wear better shoes, he is utterly controlled.

Rory Carnegie/National Crime Agency

Photographer Rory Carnegie, said: This image communicates utter exhaustion and dejection. We can see how dire his situation is. He has no protective gear on, and we can see the extreme tiredness that leads him to a place of anxiety and distraction, where he doesnt care about whether hes operating machinery safely, or putting himself at risk.

National Crime Agency

The exhibition comprises a series of large, freestanding cubes displaying images capturing snapshots of life within different types of modern slavery - in agriculture, construction, maritime, cannabis farming and food processing, child trafficking for sexual exploitation and forced prostitution.Each image comes with written commentary describing what the viewer is seeing, and information about signs which may indicate someone is a victim.

National Crime Agency

NCA has launched a touring photographic exhibition which aims to portray the signs of slavery and exploitation. Entitled Invisible People, the exhibition will tour the country as part of the National Crime Agencys campaign to raise awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking.

National Crime Agency

Child trafficking for sexual exploitationTraffickers use grooming techniques to gain the trust of a child, family or community. The childrenare recruited, transported and then sold for sex, often returning to their homes immediately afterwards, only to be picked up by the same people again. This is happening here in the UK, to migrant and British-born children.Spot the signs of child trafficking:Often, children wont be sure which country, city or town theyre in.They may be orphaned or living apart from their family, in unregulated private foster care, or in substandard accommodation. They may possess unaccounted-for money or goods or repeatedly have new, unexplained injuries.

National Crime Agency

Some workers in the farming sector, harvesting grains or root vegetables, tending livestock or fruit picking, are being exploited every day in the UK.Victims of this crime in the agricultural sector are often Eastern European men and women, who were promised a job by traffickers, or they could be individuals on the fringes of society, homeless or destitute. Through threats, violence, coercion or forced drug and alcohol dependency, theyre enslaved, working for little or no money, living in squalid conditions having had their identity documents taken from them.Spot the signs of exploitative labour in agriculture:Agricultural slaves often have their wages paid into the same bank account, meaning an illegal gangmaster is likely collecting all their wages.Exploited agriculture workers often dont have suitable protective equipment, working instead in cheap sports clothing and trainers, and dont have a different change of clothes from day-to-day.

National Crime Agency

Polish or Slovakian men are brought to the UK with the offer of employment and, after arrival, gangmasters seize documents, opening multiple bank and utility accounts in their names butrefuse to handover access to the accounts or bank cards. Hours are long and the work is gruelling and dangerous. Workers are abused and are controlled by threats of harm to their families at home.Spot the signs:Those exploited wear inappropriate clothes and often no safety gear despite working with dangerous and life-threatening equipment. They may often have untreated injuries and be refused medical attention, and will live and work in agricultural outhouses.

National Crime Agency

Labour-intensive sectors like construction, where temporary and irregular work are common, are high-risk sectors for forced labour. With new homes, offices and buildings being constructed or upgraded in great quantity, labour exploitation is the second most common type of modern slavery, after sexual exploitation.Spot the signs of exploitative labour in construction:Exploited workers are often not provided with protective clothing or equipment, and may show signs of abuse or carry old untreated injuries.Slave workers are also likely to work extremely long work hours for six or seven days a week without any leave.Photographer Rory Carnegie, said: I wanted this image to communicate that despite being forced to live, eat, wash and sleep where theyre working, in cramped and unhygienic conditions, that there is a human instinct to domesticate. I wanted to show how there is still hope and dignity in the most squalid and difficult of circumstances.

National Crime Agency

In the tough maritime industry young men, often Filipino or Indian, Eastern European or African, are promised a better life, but instead find themselves in a cycle of debt and exploitation.Unable to read, they are offered a job, given papers to sign and begin working on a trial-basis, only to be told they have failed and owe money, and have to work more to settle the debt. They may be forced to work for long hours in intense, hazardous and difficult conditions.Photographer Rory Carnegie, said: In the 80s, Chris Killip published a series of images called In Flagrante, and these images were at the forefront of my mind while composing this shot. I wanted to show the utter desperation of these men - how passed their limit they are. The broken floats and the entire decaying environment around him, I saw as a metaphor for his existence.

Rory Carnegie/National Crime Agency

Each year, women from across Eastern Europe and West Africa are lured to the UK by the dream of a better life. Whether by fake migration services or unscrupulous individuals who befriend and then betray them, women fall into a dark spiral of sexual exploitation and forced, unpaid prostitution, unable to escape.Photographer Rory Carnegie, said: What I really wanted for this image, was to depict how women are used as commodities, the complete control slavery has over them the helplessness of having to sit and wait for man after man, until no more men arrive. I wanted the image to show how lonely and eventually numbing that experience is, and for that ugliness to be contrasted against the bright blue of the wig a fancy dress item that we would usually associate with a fun event but here is used as a disguise, perhaps of her own identity to herself - to further emphasise how unjust the situation is.

NCA

The cannabis industry hides a dark secret in the house next door. Gangs bring young boys to the UK from countries like Vietnam and deliver them to a house where, once in, they wont be able to leave. Forced to tend cannabis plants that fill specially rigged houses, the boys are often locked in and forced to work, sleep and eat in one confined and dirty room. The chemicals used on the cannabis are poisonous, and often victims dont know where they are or how to get help if they do escape. The eyes, ears and compassion of the local community are essential.Spot the signs:Aside from the strong and prolonged smell of cannabis, have you noticed a house that looks unusual? Are the windows covered or usual entry points blocked? Buildings might be over-heated in very cold weather is the roof without frost, because the house is being kept warm to grow plants

National Crime Agency

Some workers in the farming sector, harvesting grains or root vegetables, tending livestock or fruit picking, are being exploited every day in the UK.Victims of this crime in the agricultural sector are often Eastern European men and women, who were promised a job by traffickers, or they could be individuals on the fringes of society, homeless or destitute. Through threats, violence, coercion or forced drug and alcohol dependency, theyre enslaved, working for little or no money, living in squalid conditions having had their identity documents taken from them.Spot the signs of exploitative labour in agriculture:Agricultural slaves often have their wages paid into the same bank account, meaning an illegal gangmaster is likely collecting all their wages.Exploited agriculture workers often dont have suitable protective equipment, working instead in cheap sports clothing and trainers, and dont have a different change of clothes from day-to-day

National Crime Agency

Spot the signs of forced prostitution:Victims of this type of crime might appear withdrawn or scared, avoid eye contact, and be untrusting. Poor English language skills could indicate exploitation because it suggests someone else must be arranging the work. A brothel is likely to be an average house on a normal looking street, but may have curtains which are usually closed and many different men coming and going frequently.

National Crime Agency

Spot the signs of exploitative labour in the maritime sector:Victims might appear withdrawn or frightened, often unable to answer questions directed at them or speak for themselves,. They might be afraid of authorities like police, immigration or the tax office, and may perceive themselves to be in debt to someone else. They may not have been given proper protective equipment so can suffer illness or injury.Photographer Rory Carnegie, said: Throughout the series of images, I wanted to juxtapose the harshness of the lives of slaves against bright primary colours colours we traditionally associate with happiness or a feeling of wellbeing to provoke a reaction. The image, as rich as it is, communicates how completely uncomfortable this person is. I wanted to show how his body is not his own, and how he has no right to avoid hardship, avoid the ice, or wear better shoes, he is utterly controlled.

Rory Carnegie/National Crime Agency

Photographer Rory Carnegie, said: This image communicates utter exhaustion and dejection. We can see how dire his situation is. He has no protective gear on, and we can see the extreme tiredness that leads him to a place of anxiety and distraction, where he doesnt care about whether hes operating machinery safely, or putting himself at risk.

National Crime Agency

The exhibition comprises a series of large, freestanding cubes displaying images capturing snapshots of life within different types of modern slavery - in agriculture, construction, maritime, cannabis farming and food processing, child trafficking for sexual exploitation and forced prostitution.Each image comes with written commentary describing what the viewer is seeing, and information about signs which may indicate someone is a victim.

National Crime Agency

Although we live in an era of disposable fashion, it is not just cheap brands, but designer brands who are exploiting people for financial gain. Women and girls comprise 71 per cent of all modern slavery victims and, shockingly, children make up 25 per cent and account for 10 million of all enslaved peopleworldwide.

So, the next time you pick up a beautiful item of clothing, ask yourself, Was this made by an enslaved person?

We can all do something to help.

Rabina Khan is a Liberal Democrat councillor for Shadwell in Tower Hamlets Council

If you suspect that someone is being trafficked, you can call the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700 or visit the Anti-Slavery website for advice and a list of other helpful phone numbers

Excerpt from:

Modern slavery is operating in plain sight. If our leaders wont shoulder the burden, we have to - The Independent