Modern slavery

Modern slavery is a serious crime and a safeguarding concern. It can affect adults in everyday settings and is often hidden in plain sight. This page is for professionals and volunteers who work with adults in Warrington and need to recognise concerns, respond safely and know how to share information through local pathways.

Modern slavery may include slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, human trafficking and exploitation. A person may appear to agree to what is happening, but apparent consent does not remove concern where there is control, coercion, deception, abuse of vulnerability or exploitation.

Modern slavery is not just about poor working conditions. The key issue is whether a person is being controlled or exploited for someone else’s gain.

Why this matters for adult safeguarding

Modern slavery can involve significant harm, trauma, fear and control. Adults may be prevented from seeking help, may not recognise themselves as victims, or may be too frightened to speak openly. They may also have care and support needs, communication needs, health needs, mental capacity considerations, housing needs, immigration concerns or fear of reprisals.

Professionals should remain professionally curious and look beyond the first explanation. Disclosure may be delayed, partial, inconsistent or absent. A calm, trauma-informed and person-centred response is essential.

Adult safeguarding responses should be guided by the principles of Making Safeguarding Personal. This means working with the adult wherever possible, listening to their views, wishes, feelings and desired outcomes, and balancing choice, safety, rights and protection from abuse or neglect.

How adults may be controlled

People may be kept in exploitation through a mixture of:

• threats, intimidation or violence
• debt, withheld wages or control of money
• confiscated documents, bank cards or phones
• dependency on the exploiter for housing, food, transport, substances or immigration-related support
• isolation from family, friends, services or the wider community
• shame, fear of authorities or fear for family members
• trauma, disability, ill health, language barriers or other vulnerabilities being deliberately exploited

Adults do not remain in exploitation because they are freely choosing harm. Very often, they are being controlled.

Possible signs and indicators

One sign alone may not prove modern slavery. Patterns matter.

Possible indicators may include:

• someone else speaks for the adult, controls contact or will not leave them alone
• the adult appears fearful, withdrawn, anxious, confused or reluctant to engage
• the adult has limited freedom of movement or appears closely monitored
• the adult has no access to money, identification documents, a phone or personal belongings
• poor living conditions, overcrowding, an unclear address or dependency on someone else for accommodation
• signs of overwork, exhaustion, untreated health issues, injury, malnutrition or poor hygiene
• the adult gives an account that appears rehearsed, inconsistent or does not match what professionals observe
• the adult appears dependent on, frightened of or controlled by another person
• there are concerns linked to labour exploitation, criminal exploitation, domestic servitude or other forms of coercion and control

Professionals may notice concerns in health, housing, social care, community safety, emergency services, voluntary and community organisations, commissioned services, faith settings, neighbourhood work, enforcement activity or routine contact with the public.

What to do if you are worried

If you are worried that an adult may be experiencing modern slavery:

• if there is immediate danger, call 999
• if a crime may have been committed, contact the police
• do not confront the suspected exploiter
• do not take action that could increase risk to the adult, yourself or others
• try to speak with the adult separately if it is safe and appropriate to do so
• use interpreters where needed; do not rely on people who may be connected to the concern
• record clearly what you have seen, heard and been told
• record the adult’s views, wishes, feelings and any immediate safety concerns
• share information through safeguarding and policing pathways
• seek advice from your manager or safeguarding lead if you are unsure

If in doubt, report the concern and seek advice. Modern slavery requires a coordinated partnership response.

Warrington adult safeguarding pathway

Where the adult has care and support needs, is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, and may be unable to protect themselves because of those needs, an adult safeguarding concern should be raised.

In Warrington, adult safeguarding concerns should be reported via methods here.

Police and immediate crime concerns

Modern slavery is a crime. If there is immediate risk, call 999. For non-emergency police concerns, use 101 or follow your agency’s agreed safeguarding and crime reporting procedures.

Where modern slavery may be suspected, police and partner agencies may need to consider immediate safety, preservation of evidence, risk to other people, safe communication, interpreter needs, housing, health and support arrangements.

National Referral Mechanism and Duty to Notify

The National Referral Mechanism, often called the NRM, is the national framework for identifying and supporting potential victims of modern slavery.

Only designated First Responder organisations can make NRM referrals. First Responders include specified statutory and non-statutory organisations. Professionals who are not First Responders should still share concerns through their safeguarding lead, manager, police or local authority pathways so that appropriate action can be taken.

For adults, informed consent is required before an NRM referral is made. This means the adult should be supported to understand:

• what the NRM is
• what support may be available
• what the possible outcomes are
• what information may be shared or requested as part of the process

If an adult does not consent to an NRM referral, this does not mean that agencies should do nothing. A Duty to Notify may still apply for designated First Responders, and safeguarding, safety planning, information sharing and crime reporting may still be required.

If the potential victim is under 18, or may be under 18, safeguarding action must be taken and an NRM referral must be made. Children do not have to consent to be referred into the NRM.

Mental capacity and consent

Where there are concerns about an adult’s ability to make a specific decision, professionals should follow the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Capacity is decision-specific and time-specific. The adult should be supported to make their own decision wherever possible.

If there is legitimate doubt about the adult’s capacity to understand, retain, use or weigh relevant information, or communicate their decision, a mental capacity assessment may be needed. Where an adult lacks capacity for the relevant decision, any decision made on their behalf must be in their best interests and must consider the least restrictive option.

Mental capacity should not be used to avoid taking safeguarding action where there are reasonable concerns about coercion, control, exploitation or serious harm.

Multi-Agency Problem Solving (MAPS)

Some modern slavery concerns are complex and require a structured multi-agency response. In Warrington, the Multi-Agency Problem Solving process, known as MAPS, may be helpful where risk is persistent, complex or difficult to manage through single-agency action alone.

MAPS can support partners to:

• bring agencies together around the adult
• share relevant information lawfully and proportionately
• understand risk, protective factors and patterns of concern
• agree roles, actions, timescales and review arrangements
• support coordinated safety planning
• avoid fragmented or duplicated responses

MAPS should not delay urgent safeguarding action, police involvement, NRM referral or Duty to Notify where these are required. MAPS should support a coordinated plan, not replace statutory or emergency responses.

For more information, see the Warrington MAPS guidance.

Working with the adult

When working with an adult who may be experiencing modern slavery:

• take time to build trust where it is safe to do so
• avoid judgemental language
• avoid blaming the adult for the situation
• do not make promises that cannot be kept
• explain confidentiality and information sharing clearly
• consider whether speaking to the adult in private is safe and possible
• consider communication needs, interpreter needs and advocacy
• consider immediate practical needs such as food, accommodation, health care, medication, transport and safety
• consider whether others may also be at risk, including children or other adults
• record the adult’s own words where possible
• record professional observations clearly and factually

A trauma-informed response recognises that fear, loyalty, dependency, shame, confusion or previous negative experiences of services may affect how a person presents or engages.

Information sharing

Modern slavery concerns often require information to be shared between agencies. Information sharing should be necessary, proportionate, relevant, accurate, timely and secure.

Where there is risk of serious harm, a crime may have been committed, or others may be at risk, information may need to be shared even where consent is not given. Practitioners should follow their own agency procedures, safeguarding information-sharing guidance and local multi-agency arrangements.

Record what information has been shared, with whom, when and why.

Children and young people

Modern slavery can affect children and young people directly. Children may also be affected where they live in a household or setting connected to exploitation, alleged perpetrators or potential victims.

If a child is at risk, follow Warrington children’s safeguarding procedures immediately.

In Warrington, concerns about children should be referred through:

• MASH: 01925 443322, option 1, then option 1
• Out of hours: 01925 444400 or 01925 443322 option 2

Training and learning

Warrington Safeguarding Partnership and Warrington Safeguarding Adults Board provide multi-agency learning opportunities to support professionals to recognise and respond to modern slavery.

Training includes:

• definitions and legal framework
• types and indicators of exploitation
• methods of coercion and control
• local and national context
• trauma-informed engagement
• adult and child safeguarding responsibilities
• National Referral Mechanism and Duty to Notify
• Warrington local pathways
• MAPS and multi-agency working
• practical case discussion and professional curiosity

To view available training, visit the Warrington Safeguarding training system.

Key messages

• Modern slavery is both a crime and a safeguarding concern.
• It can happen in ordinary places and may be hidden in plain sight.
• Look for patterns of control, coercion, dependency, fear and exploitation.
• Do not confront suspected exploiters or take action that increases risk.
• Listen, record, share concerns and follow local pathways.
• Adults may need time, safety and trust before they can disclose what is happening.
• Use the NRM, Duty to Notify, safeguarding, police and MAPS routes appropriately.
• Multi-agency working is essential to protect adults and disrupt exploitation.

If in doubt, report the concern and seek advice.

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