Rise in exploitation cases across Nottinghamshire during pandemic

An increasing number of exploitation cases have been reported in Nottinghamshire during the pandemic.
By Lucy Roberts
Published 28th Oct 2020, 10:30 BST
Practitioners are warning that they have seen an increasing number of exploitation cases being reported during the pandemic.Practitioners are warning that they have seen an increasing number of exploitation cases being reported during the pandemic.
Practitioners are warning that they have seen an increasing number of exploitation cases being reported during the pandemic.

Anti-slavery practitioners warn that there has been a 37 per cent rise in Nottinghamshire for referrals to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) – a support system for potential victims – compared with the same period last year.

Organisations across the county are working together, as part of the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Modern Slavery Partnership (NNMSP), to raise awareness, share information, and jointly plan ways to identify victims and disrupt criminals.

Experts consider this to be the best way for communities to build resilience against modern slavery.

Report any concerns to the Modern Slavery Helpline.Report any concerns to the Modern Slavery Helpline.
Report any concerns to the Modern Slavery Helpline.
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Dr Phil Northall, from the University of Nottingham’s Rights Lab and member of the NNMSP, said: “Covid-19 is clearly having devastating impacts everywhere and in relation to modern slavery in Nottinghamshire it is putting even greater pressure on already stretched services, opening up new opportunities for criminals and creating more vulnerabilities for people to become exploited."

Councillor Kay Cutts MBE, leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “Slavery and human trafficking has no place in modern society so it is important that we make a stand and do all we can to ensure we are not supporting this barbaric crime.”

Residents are urged to report any concerns to the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700.

Although if you suspect that someone is at immediate risk of harm, you should always dial 999.