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What modern slavery is | Modern slavery | Birmingham City Council
Modern slavery

What modern slavery is

Modern slavery is a crime and a serious violation of person’s human rights. This complex issue relates to all forms of slavery, servitude, forced labour and human trafficking. It includes a wide range of abuse or exploitation.

The table explains the threshold for a case to be classed as a modern slavery offence.

Modern slavery threshold
Type of case Threshold
Slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour cases

Must include:

  • a means - such as threat or use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or vulnerability
  • a purpose - such as sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, criminal exploitation, domestic servitude or organ removal
Human trafficking

Must include:

  • an act - such as recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt, which includes an element of movement
  • a means - such as threat or use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or vulnerability
  • a purpose - such as sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, criminal exploitation, domestic servitude or organ removal

Children experiencing modern slavery

Under modern slavery legislation, anyone aged 17 years and under is a child. This means the way they were coerced into exploitation is not relevant. The ‘means’ element is not needed.

Concerns related to a child should be treated as child abuse and dealt with using child protection procedures and statutory protocols.

Different types of modern slavery

There is a range of exploitative practices which survivors might experience, and many of them occur together. It is also common for survivors of modern slavery to be subject to other forms of interpersonal and structural abuse, including domestic abuse, forced marriage, homelessness, and the potential for persecution or harm.

Exploitation might include:

  • labour exploitation: being forced to work for little or no money
  • sexual exploitation: being forced into selling sex
  • criminal exploitation: being forced to break the law such as stealing, selling or growing drugs
  • domestic servitude: being forced to work within a home environment for little or no pay
  • organ harvesting: body organs or tissue being removed to be sold

Signs of modern slavery

A potential victim of modern slavery may show some of the following signs:

  • story is scripted
  • reluctance to speak
  • inconsistency about personal details
  • fearful, anxious or in distress
  • erratic change of behaviour
  • injuries
  • unsuitable clothing
  • limited freedom of movement
  • limited or no social interaction
  • strong dependence on someone for transport or food
  • not permitted to leave without supervision
  • compulsory deduction of rent or food
  • lack of personal belongings
  • overcrowding/ rough sleeping conditions
  • lack of access to private space
  • no or limited access to money
  • excessive hours of work including no holiday or contract
  • working to pay off a debt
  • needs to “earn” certain amount for example by begging
  • signs of physical or psychological abuse
  • malnourishment
  • vulnerabilities such as learning difficulties, addiction or mental health concerns
  • lack of personal hygiene or health issues being ignored
  • someone else in possession of ID documents or passport
  • threatened of being deported or reported to authorities
  • afraid of revealing their immigration status
  • lack of support network or not connected with support organisations

There may be other signs that may raise concern. Each case should be always considered on its own merits.

Who experiences modern slavery

Survivors of modern slavery can be men, women and children of all ages, ethnicities and nationalities. However, it is more common amongst the most economically vulnerable such as people who:

  • are homeless
  • have no recourse to public funds
  • have insecure immigration status
  • are within minority or socially excluded groups

Potential survivors have been reported from over 100 countries of origin each year. To find out more about the scale of modern slavery in the UK, visit National Referral Mechanism statistics.

Where modern slavery happens

Modern slavery occurs in almost every country and cuts across ethnic, cultural and religious lines. It affects our high streets, homes, factories and fields and impacts the people in our communities. Ending modern slavery is challenging because exploitation is mainly rooted in inequality, poverty, and economic structures.

Adults and children are still being exploited in the UK today, including in Birmingham. We believe tackling modern slavery is everyone’s responsibility. By working together, we can all play a vital role in preventing exploitation, providing best support for survivors and bringing perpetrators to justice.

Find out more

Page last updated: 30 September 2025

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