Modern Slavery is complex, varied and hard to detect. It is a serious and often hidden crime in which people are exploited for criminal gain.

Modern Slavery is an umbrella term used to describe:

• Offences of human trafficking, slavery, forced labour – includes criminal exploitation - and domestic servitude.
• Slavery-like practices such as debt bondage, sale or exploitation of children and forced or servile marriage.

Modern Slavery whilst varied in nature, all involve one person depriving another person of their liberty in order to exploit them for personal or commercial gain.

• It is NOT ‘people smuggling’
• Victims are not consenting and are subject to continual exploitation.
• It not only covers the trafficking of individuals from foreign countries in or out of the UK, but also those individuals who have been trafficked domestically – be they of foreign nationality or UK citizens.

Poverty, limited opportunities at home, lack of education, unstable social and political conditions, economic imbalances and war are some of the key drivers that contribute to someone’s vulnerability in becoming a victim of Modern Slavery.

Modern Slavery victims may often be people with; substance misuse issues, debts, mental health problems or learning disabilities.

Those often at highest risk are migrant workers who usually don’t speak English, and may not understand their rights and how to enforce them. This can result in individuals settling for what they think is normal or a ‘better than nothing’ situation.

Victims may not recognise themselves as a victim or want to talk to the authorities or be formally referred for support. This should not prevent information about potential Modern Slavery being passed to the police.

Reporting concerns

All children and any Adults (who has vulnerabilities outlined under the Care Act 2014 or appears to lack capacity to an underlying cognitive disability) suspected of being a victim of modern slavery should be referred in line with the Council’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.

Additionally, the case should always be reported by calling either:

• 999, if the person is at immediate risk
• Call Derbyshire on 01629 533190 (24 hours adults and children) Children triaged via Starting Point
• 101, if a non-emergency - quote Modern Slavery Human Trafficking Unit
• Modern Slavery Human Trafficking Unit for advice tel: 0300 122 8057 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (opens in a new window).

Modern Slavery Act 2015

In England and Wales, public authorities specified in Section 52 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, have a statutory Duty to Notify(DtN) the Home Office when they come across potential victims of modern slavery. This duty is discharged by either referring a potential victim into the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) where they are a child or consenting adult, or by notifying the Home Office where an adult does not consent to enter the NRM.

Adults and Consent

It is important that, where the adult individual has the capacity to consent, that they understand what they are consenting to. For an adult to provide their informed consent, you must explain:

• what the NRM is
• what support is available through it
• what the possible outcomes are for an individual being referred

Being recognised as a potential victim, may allow the individual to access support via the NRM. Support for adult victims may include:

• Access to the Government funded support through the VCC provided by The Salvation Army Support (including accommodation, material assistance, financial support, translation and interpretation services, information and advice)
• Outreach support if already in safe, secure and appropriate accommodation (which may include local authority accommodation or asylum accommodation)
• Access to legal aid for immigration advice
• Medical care and counselling
• Assistance to return to their home country if not a UK national

It must be made clear that information may be shared or sought from other public authorities, such as the police, to gather further evidence on a NRM referral.

The online referral should only be completed for adults when it is suspected that someone is a victim of modern slavery and where the adult concerned has understood the implications of, and consented to, the referral.

If an adult does not consent to enter the NRM, a DtN (Duty to Notify) referral should be completed using the same online process.

Referral Form and Further Information

For further information and to access the single online referral form for NRM and DtN referrals, see GOV.UK (opens in a new window).

The Salvation Army is the government contracted provider for the Victim Care Contract (VCC). Support can cover material assistance and financial support. 

Contact for referrals into the NRM: 0800 808 3733 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (opens in a new window).

For further information and access the Derby and Derbyshire Modern Slavery guidance on Modern Slavery please visit Safer Derbyshire (opens in a new window).