Friday 30^th July is the United Nations world day against Trafficking in Persons and NWG Network will be fully supporting this campaign and promoting the key messages across all of our social media networks on the day.   

However, until recently how many people across the UK really understood what trafficking actually means for those victims and was the realisation that Sir Mo Farrah was himself a victim of human trafficking a wake-up call for so many.  

Sadly our media portrays victims of trafficking in a very negative manner, politicians regularly “chip in” with their negative comments and views and brand those fleeing war and persecution as criminals for trying to seek sanctuary and safety for themselves and their families.  

The trafficking of human beings is big business across the world and also here in the UK, many may look at Sir Mo’s story and think that it only happens in faraway places like Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, Vietnam et al, but how many people in the UK actually understand what internal human trafficking is, what groups would it affect and where does it take place!  

Probably not too many, but they need to understand that trafficking is taking place all around us and often in plain sight, children are being trafficked on a daily basis, they are being used to carry drugs and in many instances they are forced to conceal the drugs internally…. think about it… both boys and girls. Money and weapons are also carried by children both on a local and also a national basis, children are being trafficked for child slavery as in the case of Sir Mo, although this is often referred to as servitude in my book it’s slavery. The many media reports of children dealing drugs as part of “county lines” is so misleading, these children are victims of human trafficking and modern-day slavery but the media portrays them as criminals and feeds an unhelpful narrative that shapes society’s views of these children and that they need punishing when in reality they need saving, some of the media discourse following Sir Mo’s disclosure also supports this negative narrative with some suggesting that Sir Mo should be prosecuted for his offences, sadly they have a complete lack of understanding of trafficking law but also an unhelpful view of trafficked victims.  

Drug dealers are even targeting children in sports and leisure centres, they are recruiting, or should I say grooming children in gyms, sometimes providing equipment, sports apparel and in many cases what would seem to be the positive male influence which often goes unnoticed, and remember once groomed it very hard for children and adults to exit the abusive behaviours of the organised crime groups.  

Children can also be trafficked by their sports coaches often under the guise of taking a child to a sports tournament, the former American tennis player Pam Shriver has recently disclosed her abuse at the hands of her former coach as he travelled the world with Pam and shared bedrooms, he groomed the family into letting him take her on his own, no chaperone as is a requirement in the entertainment industry in this country and he subsequently abused her, in a recent podcast Pam stated that this is still happening on the tennis circuit today, as a commentator she notices the subtle signs as she is watching the coach-player interactions all being played out in a very public place and in many instances on TV.  

I remember talking to a young athlete at an international safeguarding event I was attending, he had disclosed that he had been abused by his sports coach, and it transpired that he took this young athlete to a warm weather camp for winter training and during the training camp he was abused multiple time, separated from family and friends he had nowhere to turn to for safety and was totally reliant on the coach for everything. As he got older he did report this to the Police and the coach was subsequently arrested and charged, I asked him if he knew what human trafficking was, he did not know so I explained it to him using the definitions cited in the Palermo Protocol, I also asked him which country he was taken too, he informed me it was Morocco and that he lived in Southern Spain, I asked him what the climate was like in both countries during the winter and then the penny dropped, following our discussion he went back to the Police and discussed his human trafficking as both Spain and Morocco have signed the Palermo Protocol, the Police laid further human trafficking charges against the coach, this helped this young man to understand how he was abused and gave him a greater insight into perpetrator behaviour and how they can prey on children and families. 

Sir Mo was very lucky, his teachers saw what was happening and took the appropriate action, Sir Mo was saved, and the rest is history, however, the Pam Shriver’s of the world and the young athlete I spoke with had different outcomes with long-lasting effects. Therefore it’s imperative that we start teaching professionals, the media, in particular, parents and children what human trafficking is, the long-term impact on those affected and more importantly what to do if they suspect a child or adult is a victim, how many people reading this article know what the NRM is and what support is available for a trafficked child to adult.  

The fact that the UN have a national day dedicated to trafficked victims shows the magnitude of the global problem and also that the majority of internally trafficked child victims in the UK are homegrown should also be a wake-up call to start thinking and acting differently with regard to human trafficking. 

Please do have a look at the UN website and in particular the key theme for this year’s campaign 

https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/endht/index.html

As always we at the NWG Network are delighted to have a chat with any of you regarding this article  or any subject relating to child exploitation so please do contact me on the details below  

You may be interested in the following relevant events we are delivering over the next few months

*NEW* The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) What? Where? How?

The course will explain what the NRM is including what happens when a child becomes an adult and submitting additional information, how the NRM benefits children and where it fits in legislation before taking you step-by-step through completing an NRM referral.

Are you an NRM Responder? This course is for you

• Local Authorities Children Services
• Designated persons within Safeguarding Children Boards (Child Protection Committees in Scotland)
• Health and Social Care Trusts (HSCT) (Northern Ireland)
• Home Office UK Immigration & Visas Directorate (formerly UKBA)
• Border Force
• Police
• Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA)
• Barnardo’s
• CTAC (NSPCC Child Trafficking Advice Centre)

Click on a date to book your ticket 

26th September 2 pm – 4 pm
24th October 2 pm – 4 pm
16th November 2 pm – 4 pm
15th December 10 am – 12
31st January 2 pm – 4 pm
16th February 10 am – 12

Place: Microsoft Teams
Cost: NWG members: £15.00/Non-Members: £20.00

*NEW* Awareness Raising: Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking

This course was designed at the request of foster carers and health professionals but is suitable for anyone working with children and young people

It is intended to give participants an understanding of modern slavery and human trafficking including why our children are vulnerable and often unable to disclose the abuse.

Professionals will be upskilled to recognise potential signs and indicators of modern slavery and human trafficking and feel confident in knowing how to respond.

Aims & Objectives.

• Understand Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking as defined within the Modern Slavery Act 201
• State the different types of exploitation within Modern Slavery
• Explain the factors that make a child vulnerable to trafficking/modern slavery
• Describe the barriers that prevent children from knowing or disclosing when they are exploited
• Know the signs & indicators relating to exploitation
• Understand the role/responsibilities of statutory agencies including foster carers, when it is suspected that a child is a potential victim of modern slavery/trafficking

Click on a date to book your ticket 

15th September 10 am – 12
4th October 2 pm – 4 pm
7th November 12 – 2 pm
13th December 1 pm – 3 pm
26th January 10 am – 12
23rd February 12 – 2 pm

Place: Microsoft Teams
Cost: NWG members: £15.00/Non-Members: £20.00

Regards

Kevin Murphy 

Safeguarding in Sport Lead 

NWG Network 

Office: 01332 585371 

Mobile 07399 449045 

Email:  [email protected]  

Secure Email: [email protected]