Six new research projects have been funded to investigate the prevention of modern slavery in the UK. The projects are designed to provide evidence and guidance for policymakers to ensure that robust legislation and policies are in place to meet the challenges of preventing modern slavery.
Prevention of human trafficking and exploitation is a national and global goal as it is crucial to prevent harm and exploitation to people before it occurs, and to reduce harms once it has happened. There are many factors which may make individuals more vulnerable to modern slavery and exploitation, from poverty, lack of opportunities to provide for their families, immigration status and displacement, to discrimination based on factors such as gender, ethnic background, age or disability.
However, prevention is a complex, and relatively underdeveloped aspect of the response to modern slavery, with limited evidence of what effective prevention means in principle and practice. As such, prevention of modern slavery is a key research priority for the Modern Slavery PEC as funders of research on the issue.
The six research projects are funded by Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre (Modern Slavery PEC), which in turn is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).
The prevention research projects which have been funded will specifically look at:
- Investigating cultural understanding of marginalised communities by professionals in response to modern slavery in the UK.
- Exploring cultural barriers to accessing support for Albanian nationals following modern slavery.
- Investigating the risks of human trafficking and exploitation for unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee children in Home Office operated hotels.
- Analysing the links between modern slavery and homelessness in the UK.
- Improving prevention and identification of modern slavery of children and young people in the UK.
- Improving identification of disabled children and young people at risk of modern slavery.
Prof Alex Balch, Director of Research at Modern Slavery PEC, which funded the projects, said:
“It’s incredibly important that we understand how to better prevent modern slavery, and this means targeted research on interventions that relate to different vulnerabilities and structural factors underpinning modern slavery. We have funded this group of research projects that look at a range of issues so that we can inform policies that more effectively prevent adults and children from being exploited in the UK.”
“It’s incredibly important that we understand how to better prevent modern slavery, and this means targeted research on interventions that relate to different vulnerabilities and structural factors underpinning modern slavery."
Prof Alex Balch, Director of Research at Modern Slavery PEC
Dr Zahra Shirgholami, Lecturer in Modern Slavery at University of Hull, who is leading the project on cultural understanding of marginalised communities by professionals in response to modern slavery in the UK, said:
“This research will provide reliable data on the link between structural discrimination and modern slavery risks within the UK and how cultural understanding can be embedded in policies to prevent such risks and safeguard marginalised communities and individuals.”
Associate Professor Carole Murphy from the Bakhita Centre, St. Mary’s University, who is leading the project on cultural barriers to accessing support for Albanian nationals following modern slavery said:
This is an important and timely study given the increase in referrals of Albanian nationals into the National Referral Mechanism. The study aims to create more awareness of the benefits of delivering services informed by cultural competency in supporting survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking. Although focusing on Albanians as a case study, the project will deliver a model of cultural competency for the sector that can be used to support anyone who has experienced modern forms of slavery and exploitation.
Dr Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson, Associate Professor at University College London, who is leading the project on trafficking risks for unaccompanied children in Home Office operated hotels, said:
“This is a timely research area that needs urgent attention with the Illegal Migration Act and the recent High Court ruling that deemed the Home Office-practise of hotels to house unaccompanied refugee children unlawful. As of July 2023, 154 children were still missing after almost three years. Some of the missing children were as young as 12 years old at the time of disappearance. We must do better as a society to protect and safeguard these vulnerable children.”
Dr Melissa Jorgie, Senior Lecturer at the University of Roehampton, who is leading the project on the links between homelessness and modern slavery, said:
“Partnering with charities like Sutton Night Watch Homeless Shelter, and The Upper Room has afforded us the opportunity to work with services that are interact as a front-face for clients and we are able to build trust with the most vulnerable communities in order to greater understand the risks they face, information that might not be currently available through our reporting systems.”
Dr Ergul Celiksoy, Assistant Professor from the Rights Lab University of Nottingham, who is leading the project on prevention and identification of children and young adults experiencing, or at risk of, modern slavery in the UK, said:
“This research maps existing identification and prevention initiatives across the UK and the current state of knowledge on programme effectiveness. Findings will be integrated to inform the co-development of toolkits and recommendations for improved identification and prevention in the UK. This will deliver an important step change in understanding what initiatives are taking place to support prevention and identification, what works, and for whom.”
Anita Franklin, Professor of Childhood Studies at the University of Portsmouth, who is leading the project on identification of disabled children at risk of modern slavery, said:
“From our own research we know that too often this group of children and young people fall through the cracks and are often only identified when significant harm has occurred. Focusing upstream on prevention and early identification of vulnerability is vital. Working in partnership with disabled children and young people to ensure that our approaches to prevention are child-centred and meet their specific needs is an important step forward.”
List of all funded research projects:
1. Understanding the value of cultural competency in UK responses to modern slavery
Evidence shows that marginalised communities facing exclusion based on factors such as race, class, sexuality, socio-economic status, or immigration status are more vulnerable to exploitation. Improving cultural understanding of marginalised communities is an important factor in improving responses to modern slavery. Professionals working within the sector need to be competent in understanding different cultures, people, beliefs, and orientations to be able to address specific vulnerabilities to exploitation and to make a real difference in improving support provided to people affected by modern slavery from such communities.
However, there is currently limited research in assessing the level/value of cultural understanding of responses to modern slavery within the UK. To address this gap, a collaboration between the Law School/Wilberforce Institute at the University of Hull, , Shiva Foundation and West Midlands Anti-Slavery Network will investigate the role of cultural understanding in improving equity and effectiveness in identification, support provision and legal enforcement related to modern slavery.
2. Overcoming cultural barriers to providing support to trafficking survivors
Evidence shows that people affected by modern slavery often face barriers to accessing the support they need, that arise from limited understanding among service providers of their respective cultures, language, beliefs and gender norms. A project, undertaken by the Bakhita Centre for Research on Slavery, Exploitation and Abuse at St Mary’s University Twickenham and Mary Ward Loreto, a charity dedicated to tackling human trafficking in and from Albania, will work to explore how cultural barriers may impact the identification and support of people affected by modern slavery.
3. Trafficking risks for unaccompanied children in Home Office operated hotels
A collaboration between University College London’s ‘Everyday Disasters and Violences Research Group’ and ECPAT UK will work on a project investigating the risks of human trafficking and exploitation for unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee children in Home Office operated hotels and other housing environments. Evidence has shown that that an extensive number of children are going missing. Reports suggest that since July 2021, in six Home Office operated hotels that have accommodated 4,600 asylum-seeking children in East Sussex, nearly one in ten children and young people have gone missing. Investigative journalists tracked the missing children to 18 other police forces, with evidence of trafficking and exploitation.
The research project will investigate the experiences and observations of unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee children in Brighton and Hove to better understand what different factors are seen to increase the risks of human trafficking and related exploitation from the Home Office-operated hotels and foster care settings, and what measures can be taken to prevent trafficking, mitigate risks and improve early intervention
4. Examining the links between homelessness and modern slavery in the UK
This research project will analyse the links between modern slavery and homelessness in the UK. There is a body of evidence suggesting that people who are homeless are at a higher risk of being exploited in modern slavery and in turn that survivors of modern slavery are at a higher risk of becoming homeless. The project will explore why that is the case especially given the scope of homelessness currently in the UK, it seems timely that we are working on understanding the bilateral risks these vulnerable groups are likely to encounter so help can become more accessible. The research project will be undertaken by the University of Roehampton, Hestia, British Transport Police, Sutton Night Watch Homeless Charity, The Upper Room, Human Trafficking Foundation, Croydon Council and Hope at Home.
5. Prevention and identification of children and young adults experiencing, or at risk of, modern slavery in the UK
Despite the increasing number of children in the NRM, evidence shows that both identification and prevention efforts for trafficked children and those at risk are failing. The characteristics of those identified as child victims of modern slavery have also radically changed since the adoption of the Modern Slavery Act, particularly as a result of county lines activities. This poses further challenges to effective prevention and identification, that have not yet been adequately addressed.
A collaboration between the University of Nottingham’s Rights Lab and ECPAT UK, a children’s rights organisation, aims to understand how children and young adults up to 25 years old are identified as victims, or at risk of, modern slavery in the UK and what works to support early identification, prevent (re) exploitation, and maintain contact. The project specifically focuses on early identification of children and young adults who are at risk of modern slavery in the UK and prevention of these practices.
6. Improving earlier identification of disabled children and young people at risk of exploitation and trafficking within UK borders.
Existing and emerging research shows that children and young people who would be defined as disabled under the Equality Act (2010) experience increased risk of being sexually and criminally exploited and/or trafficked within the UK. This group of children often have unmet needs associated with learning, communication, social interaction, mental health, or trauma which increases their vulnerability.
A collaboration between the University of Portsmouth and the National Working Group (NWG) Network will be researching how professionals in mainstream services can better identify and respond to this increased vulnerability and identify earlier if a child is at risk or is affected by exploitation. This research will explore with professionals what will support them to spot concerns earlier through open, ‘curious’ conversations with children and young people. Through participatory workshops with disabled young people, we will explore how they feel professionals can best support disabled young people to prevent harm.
