Modern slavery in United Kingdom

London, United Kingdom

Saudi diplomat's domestic worker held on diplomatic visa. Passport confiscated worked around the clock slept on kitchen floor Accused: Saudi diplomatic family.

2022

Eye-witnesses described how a number of police Land Rovers and unmarked police cars swept into King Street in Belfast city centre yesterday around 10am. In dramatic scenes they raided a large apartment block adjacent to the Ibis hotel and arrested two men, aged 22 and 29. One witness, who did not wish to be named, said the apartments were known to be a base for prostitutes, with clients visiting at all hours. Two of the women, both in their 20s, were rescued yesterday from the King Street apartment block and a property in nearby College Place North. The other four women were rescued over recent weeks during the three-month long PSNI investigation. A 24-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman were also arrested in Cavendish Street, off the Falls Road in west Belfast. One of the suspects is from Northern Ireland, the other three arrested are eastern European.

2011

London UK, United Kingdom

Five of the six men were convicted and spent up to 14 years jail time Two men from Peterborough, Slovakian Edward Facuna, 54, and Czech-born Roman Pacan, 39, charged for trafficking a Slovakian teenager to the UK for sexual exploitation and were both sentenced 11 years in jail Turkish-born Ali Arslan, convicted of controlling two brothels, controlling prostitution for gain, controlling a child prostitute and trafficking a teenager to the UK for sexual exploitation, was sentenced for 14 years. a 26 year old spend two and a half years in jail for brothel keeping and a child prostitution offence. He was cleared of trafficking in the UK. Kosovan Martin Doci, 29, was convicted of controlling child prostitution and trafficking a teenager within the UK and received 11 years jail time. 29 year old Valmir Gjetia of Albania was jailed for three years under the changes of controlling prostitution

Forced Criminality

Chertsey Close, Luton, United Kingdom, United Kingdom

James Watt, 27, his girlfriend, Natasha Oldfield, 29, and his brother Richard's girlfriend, Nichola Roberts, 22, were jailed FOR LIFE for murder today Watt will serve a minimum of 36 years, Oldfield a minimum of 18 and Roberts a minimum of 15. James's brother, Robert Watt, 20, and his mother, Jennifer Smith-Dennis, 58, were jailed for eight years and 10 years respectively for familial homicide. A third brother, Richard Watt, 25, who previously pleaded guilty to familial homicide was sentenced to six years in prison. James, Robert and Richard Watt had pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and, on Friday, Roberts, Oldfield and Smith-Dennis were convicted by the jury.

Forced Labor

Carwood Grove, SHEFFIELD, S4 7SE, UK, United Kingdom

The two men who were convicted are Polish nationals. Their names are Lukasz (age 28) and Jerzy (age 40). They are both members of a European trafficking gang. The gang members convince Polish workers that there is better work for them in the UK and that their life will improve once they have these jobs. Upon arriving with their victims they ask for an up-front sum of money to pay for ‘housing’. The workers are taken to Halcar Tavern on Carwood Grove in Sheffield, UK where they are housed in despicable conditions. The men are transported to work and back for the first week. No pay is given to the men and then once the first week is over they begin to use violence (baseball bats) to coerce the men into working further. Initially the investigations led the officers to suspect 26 victims, but that number has since changed to be over 130 polish nationals that were trafficked over a period of two years. As well, there were two other men who were arrested and still await a trial. http://7thspace.com/headlines/359712/uk_human_trafficking_gang_sentenced_to_six_years.html "The court heard that Bala would collect victims from coach stations, rail stations and airports before taking their money and driving them to the derelict Halcar Tavern, in the Burngreave area of the city. Both and Bala and Adamowicz lived in the pub alongside the workers, who were told to sleep on mattresses on the floor in conditions described as "filthy" and "stinking" by investigators." http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Two-jailed-over-jobs-scam.6572850.jp "Two other members of the gang who ran the operation from Poland have been arrested. They were caught in Britain and have been extradited to their home country to stand trial." http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Two-jailed-over-jobs-scam.6572850.jp

Child Labor

Sheffiled, United Kingdom, United Kingdom

Natasa Demetorova was sentenced to 6 yrs in jail for prostituting a 17 years old from Slovakia.

New Lane, Acomb, York, United Kingdom, United Kingdom

Antonia Pearson-Gaballonie, age 36, of New Lane, Acomb, York. She was married to the victim's brother but he was posted to Wiltshire and she refused to move with him. She then hired the victim as a nanny for her children and forced her to clean the house naked, beg for her food as well as beaten. Pearson-Gaballonie later married Neil Pearson, age 35, who was also convicted of aiding and abetting his wife in committing assault. The jury heard Pearson-Gaballonie had been previously married to Miss Sandeman's brother. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/north_yorkshire/5328158.stm

South Yorkshire, United Kingdom

human trafficking ring in South Yorkshire . She said a group of young men - who her daughter met through fellow pupils - used threats and violence to control the girl's behaviour for three years.

South yorkshire, United Kingdom

Alzbeta Dunkova, aged 26, of Page Hall Road, Grimesthorpe, Sheffield, got 16 years for her part in the plot and her husband Marcel Dunka, 27 and brother Roman Dunka, 34,

Belfast & Londonderry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Simon Dempsey (39) and Chen Rong (33) Both Simon Dempsey and Chen Rong have been charged for facilitating the UK arrival of Chinese girls for sex trafficking purposes. Dempsey, a former Police Service of Northern Ireland officer, acted as the enforcer while Rong acted as the "controller of the brothels". A group of 6 girls were rescued in Belfast & Londonderry, Northern Ireland. These girls were trafficked from China through a Chinese Mafia ring and have since been forced to work as sex slaves in England and now Northern Ireland. This operation has been a long time in the planning and have numerous partner agencies involved in bringing women over from China to work all across Europe. In this particular Northern Ireland case, the women were told they would be working as nannies/babysitters in the UK. Both Dempsey and Rong are now awaiting a final sentence.

Blackburn, Lancashire, United Kingdom, United Kingdom

The perpetrator was arrested and the victims were released, after one of the victims had escaped and reported to local authorities. In a news report, one of the victims makes a statement that she had previously not known of help in the police, and she now encourages other women who are in similar circumstances for hope in turning to the police.

Plymouth, United Kingdom

The police were tipped off and then launched an undercover investigation. This led to them getting three warrants, and so they simultaneously executed Operation Hinton, raiding the properties on September 30, 2009. During the mission, police were accompanied by three interpreters. The police arrested the perpetrators and freed the victims, treating them as witnesses.

London, England, United Kingdom

A woman approached parents in Africa and told them she would find their daughters a home and a better life in London. She single-handedly escorted the six of them on a flight from Africa to the UK. On arrival in the UK, she loaded them into a waiting van and dropped them off at various locations around the city. The new guardians who received them paid the trafficker some money. One of the victims worked as a household servant to a married couple with a young son. Her duties ran about 12 hours a day, but she was sometimes wakened after hours to do more chores. If she didn’t hear her master’s call, the woman of the household would pour cold water on her face while she was sleeping. She was verbally abused and beaten for very slight offenses, and sent to clean the homes of friends. Her identification papers were confiscated.

Child Labor

Cote d'Ivoire, United Kingdom

An 11 year old Malian boy dreamed of buying a bicycle. When a man approached him and told him he could work on a cocoa farm and make enough money to buy a bicycle, a radio and more, the boy did not suspect the man of being a child trafficker. He went with the man to Cote d'Ivoire, where the man sold him to a cocoa farmer. He and other trafficked boys worked long hours doing back-breaking and dangerous work farming cocoa and bananas. The farmer gave them little to eat, beat them severely, and forbade them from leaving the farm. At last he realized he had become a slave.

London, England, United Kingdom

From an article in the Independent: "A woman who claimed she was beaten and sexually assaulted by a diplomat and his royal wife, who brought her to London, has spoken of her fear of reprisals. The 23-year-old, who has been granted refugee status, is owed more than £20,000 following an employment tribunal order, but has been unable to get justice as the couple have returned home. The woman said she had been treated as little more than a slave after having been promised paid work as a nanny, a room in the couple's magnificent house and days off to enjoy London. Instead, she alleged, they violently beat her, sexually assaulted her and locked her away to work 19-hour days for no pay. The couple, whose identity is known to the IoS, cannot be named as the victim fears reprisals. She said that they had had her followed after she escaped from their home last year, and have subjected her and her family to death threats. Her tale of modern slavery is one that is all too familiar in Britain. There are more than 20,000 migrant domestic workers estimated to be in the UK. Those working for diplomats are particularly vulnerable because visa restrictions prevent them changing employer. Last year 189 visas were issued to domestic workers accompanying diplomats, and every year some of these will be subjected to abuse. Now campaigners are demanding a change in the law. Although the woman reported her allegations to police, they advised her that the couple could not be prosecuted because of their diplomatic status. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) contacted their embassy but were told that since they have returned to their home country they cannot be chased for the compensation payments ordered in January. The domestic worker was 21 when she came to Britain. "From the first night I knew something was wrong," she said. "I was made to share a room with the diplomat and he came into my bed and touched me all over. "I was so scared but I spoke no English and had no money and no phone. I was trapped. I was paid nothing, never allowed to leave the house, and only given scraps to eat. "They made me get up at six to cook, clean and care for them and their children; I didn't get to bed until one in the morning. They treated me like dirt, throwing things at me, shouting at me and hitting me ... I hand-washed all their clothes until my hands were inflamed. If I didn't do what they asked they would beat me and smash my head against the wall. Every time I asked to go home they threatened me. They said they would destroy my passport and harm my family. I was terrified because I knew they could; they have power in my country." Kalayaan, a charity dedicated to helping migrant domestic workers, says her case illustrates the terrible abuses that diplomats can get away with in this country. Jenny Moss, a community advocate for the charity, said: "To protect diplomats' domestic workers it is imperative that the UK Government give them the basic right to change employer, so they can flee abuse and access protection and justice without fear of deportation. The power that employers can wield over vulnerable individuals is akin to bonded labour and leads to human trafficking." An FCO spokesman said: "We expect foreign missions and diplomats to meet their obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961, to respect the laws and regulations of the UK, including employment rules."" The above article was written by reporter Emily Dugan of the Independent in London. Link: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/diplomats-nanny-lifts-lid-on-modern-slavery-1769711.html

united kingdom, United Kingdom

6 traffickers involved...Ali Arslan, Edward Facuna, Roman Pacan, Mesut Aslan, Kosovan Martin, Valmin Gjetja. They were aged between 26-54 years old and were expected to have sold approximately 50 eastern european women.

Rochdale, town centre, United Kingdom

Reported 2 August 2010: Nine men convicted at Manchester Crown Court in connection with the abuse were: Aftab Khan, 31, of Tarporley Avenue, Fallowfield pleaded guilty to one count of controlling a child prostitute and one count of sexual activity with a child. He was sentenced to nine years in prison. This was later reduced to seven years on appeal Abid Khaliq, 30, of Shrewsbury Street, Stretford was sentenced to eight months in prison after admitting perverting the course of justice Noorzai Ahmed, 29, of Royce Court, Hulme was sentenced to four years in prison after he was found guilty of paying for the sexual services of a child Mohammed Anwar Safi, 29, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 31 months in prison after admitting paying for the sexual services of a child Mohammed Khan, 26, of Royce Court, Hulme was sentenced to four years in prison after he was found guilty of facilitating child prostitution Najibullah Safi, 33, of Reabrook Avenue, West Gorton was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting to sexual activity with a child Asad Yousaf Hassa, 28, of Rivington Street, Rochdale was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting two counts of sexual activity with a child Mohammed Basharat, 28, of Prospect Street, Rochdale was sentenced to two years in prison after he pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child under 16 Mohammed Atif, 29, of Rivington Street, Rochdale was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting to sexual activity with a child

Forced Labor

Angus, Scotland, United Kingdom

Complaints by seven workers in Angus led to the investigation. In Angus and elsewhere, investigators found more than 15 breaches of regulation in such as areas as transportation, accommodation and minimum wage requirements against Polish workers who were employed picking daffodils. After this investigation, Timberland Recruitment Ltd had their license revoked by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA), a UK agency which "regulates those who supply labour or use workers to provide services in agriculture, forestry, horticulture, shellfish gathering and food processing and packaging." (http://www.gla.gov.uk/index.asp?id=42) Among other things, the GLA found a letter to the workers stating that they may not leave before the end of the contract without paying a fine to the company, and including threats to their families at home should they not pay, that workers had had deductions from their wages for transportation, housing, and the use of the company's water-proof clothing in bad weather, that workers were regularly receiving below minimum wage, and that they lived in sub-standard, cramped conditions which exhibited fire and health hazards.

Scotland, United Kingdom

Raid occurred freeing 59 women from trafficking in Scotland.

United kingdom, United Kingdom

Thomas John Carroll, his daughter Toma Carroll, and Shaemial Clark. They have all denied joint charges of human trafficking into the UK, out of the UK, and controlling prostitution and money laundering.

London, UK, United Kingdom

Oriental Gems was an "online brothel", which specialized in girls from the South East Asia. A gallery on the site showed photographs of more than 60 naked and semi-naked women. Many of them were effectively commodities who had been traded and invested in by "bondholders". Southwark Crown Court heard that Oriental Gems was run by Pongpoj Pitayatanakul, his brother Bordee, and Pongpoj's girlfriend Monthira Duangthip, all from Guildford, Surrey. They employed four men as drivers and assistants: Panya Peakaew, from Paddington, west London, Nopharat Charoenying, and Graipich Vudto, from Bayswater, central London, and Thatri Pornpaditkong, from central London. One specific case is of a woman - advertised on the website as "Helen" – who had been "bought" from her traffickers by a syndicate of two women and a man for £11,000 and then told she would have to pay her "bondholders" £30,000 to win her own freedom. Brian O'Neill, prosecuting, said she effectively had to sleep with 300 men, at £100 a time, to buy herself out of a modern-day form of slavery. The "bondholders", who effectively owned several of the women and expected them to pay off their £30,000 debt, were two women, Jirapha Sriwicha, of Hendon, north London and Sutima Khongpon, and Phanusak Kaewbenjarkarn, both from Streatham, south London. Metropolitan Police’s Chief Superintendent Ian Dyson, in charge of the Clubs and Vice Unit has said, “What is notable about this gang is the level of exploitation that the women had to work under - their debt bondages are the highest we have ever come across - in the region of £28,000.”

Sheffield, UK, United Kingdom

The 15-year-old victim came to Britain from Lithuania for a summer job, expecting to work in a restaurant or café. She was traveling with a man from Lithuania who took her passport after arriving in Heathrow airport and introduced her to Shaban Maka, Ilir Barjami, Xhevahir Pisha, and Lina Yunel. She was then sold and taken to Birmingham to work in a brothel. She escaped, but was taken again to Coventry, and sold again to Pisha to paid 3,000 Pounds for her. She was taken to a brothel in Leicester, where she was told to repay him by working as a prostitute. She ran away again, and was once again captured and taken to London, where she was sold several times again until she was finally taken to Sheffield. There, Barjami paid 1,500 Pounds for her, and kept her in his apartment for a time before taking her to a sauna to get her work. In total, the ordeal lasted 3 months.

Luton, England, United Kingdom

-Police arrested the defendants on various dates between Dec 2007 and May 2008. -a Turkish national and naturalised British citizen pleaded guilty on 22nd of September to two counts of controlling a brothel. He was given nine years for trafficking within the United Kingdom for sexual exploitation, to be served consecutively with five years for controlling prostitution for gain; five years for controlling a child prostitute; four years for the first count of controlling a brothel for the use of prostitution; four years for the second count of controlling a brothel for the use of prostitution, leading to total imprisonment of 14 years. -a Slovakian national, was found guilty of trafficking into the UK. He was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment. -a Czech Republic national, was found guilty of trafficking into the UK for sexual exploitation. He was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment. -a Kosovon national, was found guilty and sentenced to 11 years for trafficking within the UK and five years, to be served concurrently, for controlling a child prostitute. -another Turkish national was found guilty on 3.11.08 and sentenced to two and a half years for controlling a child prostitute, and 15 months, to be served concurrently, for controlling a brothel for the use of prostitution. -an Albanian national was found guilty and sentenced on 4.11.08 to three years for controlling a prostitute for gain. Charges of unlawful wounding and assault occasioning actual bodily harm will lie on file.

2007

Pitsmore, Sheffield, United Kingdom

3 Eastern European men from Kosovo, Albania & Lithuania trafficked 2 girls (18 & 19 years old) from Lithuania to Sheffield (one girl was further trafficked to London – this case can also be viewed on Slavery Map). On arrival at Gatwick airport, their passports were taken and they were auctioned to a group of men in the ‘Costa’ coffee bar. They were then taken to a flat in Sheffield to begin ‘working’ under threat of torture or death. They were told that they would be kept in baths of ice or shot dead if they refused to sleep with who they were told. The traffickers also threatened that if they disobeyed, they would be sold onto traffickers in London, who would lock them up and give them no food. Both girls were never left unattended and all calls were monitored.

2005

Medway towns, Kent, England, United Kingdom

A Chinese man was found in the same flat as the woman and arrested on suspicion of being involved with trafficking women for prostitution.

2005

Bearwood, Birmingham, UK, United Kingdom

Carl Pritchett owned Cuddles Massage Parlous in Bearwood, and ran the establishment with two associates: Susan Richards, who managed the brothel, and Nathan Langston, who worked maintenance. The victims were held at a nearby house during the day, and taken to Cuddles each evening. The massage parlor is located on Hagley Road, near the center of Birmingham. The victims had their passports and other travel documents taken from them. Cuddles had 12 rooms, an electric fence at the back of the building, and several of the windows were boarded.

2005

Hounslow, London, England, United Kingdom

A young man befriended the 16 year-old girl in Lithuania, where he introduced her to his “friends” at a nightclub. They offered her an exciting, all expenses paid, ‘Sport’s Trip’ to London. She forged a permission letter from her parents, and the men took her to Sheffield where she was sold – they confiscated her ID card which proved she was 16. She was then sold to four/five Albanian brothers (ages 21, 22, 32, 33) who were operating a brothel in Hounslow, London. They told her she had to work to pay for the cost to transport her from Sheffield to London. The brothel operated 24/7 and the girls were given one day off a week. Girls were told that they would receive a share of their profits once the debt had been paid off. She was given a fake name and was allowed to make occasional phone calls to her family in Lithuania, but was too frightened to tell them about her situation. The gang also occasionally sent £100 or so, which the prosecution argued was to imply that the girl was doing well in the UK. The girl reports that she was forced to sleep with as many as 10 men per day, and earned her traffickers around £800 per day. She received no money.

2004