La Strada Documentation Center

Contemporary Slavery in the UK. Overview and Key Issues

Document number
1395
Date
2007
Title
Contemporary Slavery in the UK. Overview and Key Issues
Author/publisher
Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Gary Craig, Aline Gaus, Mick Wilkinson, Klara Skrivankova, Aidan McQuade
Availability
View/save PDF version of this document
Document type(s)
Research/Study/Analysis,
Summary
This report reviews the nature and extent of slavery in contemporary Britain as a contribution to the debate about slavery and the conditions under which it is still possible for it to happen. Although the report – largely because of the limitations of the JRF remit – necessarily focuses on the UK, we want to stress that slavery in the contemporary UK cannot be seen in isolation from elsewhere. Most of those working as slaves in the UK have come from elsewhere, often legally. Modern slavery is, of course, illegal, dynamic, internationalised and, because of these characteristics, difficult to map. The most significant form of slavery in the world include descentbased slavery, bonded labour, serfdom, debt bondage, sexual slavery, child labour and enforced participation in armed conflict. Although agencies such as the police and social services are increasingly aware of the problem, this is the fi rst comprehensive review of evidence about the current extent of slavery in the UK. The study was carried out by: • reviewing published material, both within the UK and more widely • looking at reports prepared by many agencies responsible for developing policy or delivering services to those affected by slavery • searching a wide range of websites • interviewing key personnel in a range of agencies.
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