Modern slavery in UK records an increase up to 62% on the previous year
October 23, 2021, 7:29 am

Modern slavery in UK records an increase up to 62% on the previous year

Beggar-Homeless/Pixabay

The Sky News reported according to a leading UK charity, modern slavery cases across Britain have rocketed during the pandemic.

According to the Sky News, the Salvation Army says it helped 2,662 survivors of slavery in England and Wales between July 2020 and June 2021, of whom 470 had been forced to commit crimes such as growing or dealing drugs, begging and shoplifting.

That's an increase of 62% on the previous year.

Emilie Martin from the charity said: "Unfortunately as a result of the pandemic we have seen a significant increase in the number of individuals referred into the national referral mechanism as a result of criminal exploitation."

She added: "This can be seen through county lines, forcing people into 'cuckooing' apartments, begging and forced begging.

"And we have seen an increase in this as a result of the pandemic."

The Sky News mentioned that the Salvation Army believes the economic and mental health impact of the pandemic could be to blame for the significant rise in the number of people targeted by criminals looking for "slaves".

It added that the charity filmed an interview with "Dan", a young man in his 20s who they helped after he had been forced into modern day slavery by a man who had initially befriended him.

"It's difficult to say that I was a slave," says "Dan". "It's terrible, it feels terrible."

The man began by buying him meals and giving him cash, but suddenly announced that "Dan" owed him £50,000 and would have to start doing everything he told him to.

"He was taking money off me all time," he said. "It was never ending. He beat me.

"He threatened my mother, something no man or woman wants to hear.

"He made me sell drugs. It got so bad that I tried to commit suicide."

The ordeal only ended when "Dan" got arrested and police quickly figured out that he was a victim of modern day slavery and released him.

The pandemic may have changed circumstances for many people, but it seems criminal gangs have used it as an opportunity to keep making money out of other people's misery.

Source: skynews

Pakistani envoy: Revival of ancient Silk Road will strengthen regional connectivity Over 1.7 million migrants were detained at US-Mexico border

Upon arriving to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which includes around forty heads of state in Budapest, he said, "I look forward to sitting with the elected U.S. president and seeing how we will collectively ensure we meet challenges, including the threats from Russia and North Korea." He also noted that the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the United States as well, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Before Trump's victory, Rutte expressed confidence that a united Washington would remain part of the defensive alliance, even if Trump became the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF last Monday night, he stated that both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also that of America. He added that both candidates are aware that the security of the United States is closely tied to NATO.

On Wednesday, NATO congratulated Trump on his victory but did not address the Ukrainian issue.

It is noteworthy that the relationship between the elected U.S. president and the defense alliance was not the best during his first term in the White House. Trump criticized NATO member states multiple times and even hinted at withdrawing from the alliance unless they increased their financial contributions.

Additionally, the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war is one of the matters that complicate relations between the two sides, especially since Trump has repeatedly stated that he can end this ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, quickly. He implied that he had a peace plan between Kyiv and Moscow, while his vice president, JD Vance, revealed aspects of that plan, which stipulated Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, thereby sending reassuring signals to the Russians.

Furthermore, many NATO member states in Europe fear that Trump might halt military aid to Ukraine after he previously criticized the U.S. for pouring funds into supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.