You wouldn’t expect that in the UK suburbs. But the slave trade is still active in these areas, and its existence is hidden and widespread. Al Jazeera’s intense undercover investigation into Britain’s modern slave trade reveals an underground system of crime and human rights abuses that continues to thrive while hiding in plain sight.
These injuries occur in the most inconspicuous of circumstances. That was the case with a high-profile car wash in Kent. There, workers toil for a little more than $4 an hour, endure excruciatingly long hours and poor working conditions, and often endure verbal and physical abuse. The car wash, which has close ties to Volvo and Kia dealerships in the area, is said to meet its staffing needs by engaging in human trafficking crimes. Similar forced labor practices exist across a range of industries in the region, from nail salons to the growing marijuana growing industry.
The Modern Slavery Act, enacted by Parliament in March 2015, prohibits such activity and requires companies to remain aware of these practices and be vigilant in removing them from their own operations. Still, the filmmakers found that 85 percent of the country’s best-known companies weren’t fully adhering to the rules.
Sexual slavery also dominates the region. It is impossible to determine exactly how many young women are currently being held captive and exploited against their will, but the number is likely in the thousands. Some of the victims were British citizens, while others were smuggled in from different parts of the world. The film shows us how police work to stop these dehumanizing crimes, and how shelters are increasingly looking to provide additional support to these young victims.
Britain’s Modern Slave Trade features original interviews with several victims of the slave trade, offering a glimpse into how these criminal enterprises continue to thrive. This is a deeply disturbing crisis that law enforcement is ill-prepared to contain.
