Humber region ideal for exploitative gangs

The geography of the area and ease of access to the region of Humberside through it's ports, makes it an easy choice for traffickers and exploiters of modern slavery.

Agencies, including Police and the Home Office have highlighted the Humber region’s issues in reducing the numbers of vulnerable people trafficked into the area.

With an estimated 13,000 victims of modern slavery within the United Kingdom, the North Sea coastline and large agriculture areas in North Lincolnshire provide opportunities for criminal gangs to exploit their victims, with Yorkshire almost matching London, as the regions most complicit in modern slavery within the UK.

Detective Chief Inspector of Humberside Police, Mark Kelk, from the unit Protecting Vulnerable Persons, said that due to lack of funding, the force is finding it increasingly difficult to control traffickers and exploiters.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that over 20 million people worldwide are subjected to forced labour, with almost 19 million of those exploited by private companies and individuals. The ILO also estimates that £111 billon is raised illegally by the gangs.

In 2013, the National Crime Agency (NCA) published a report, which showed a high level of exploitation within Humberside, when compared to other areas of the country. Of the 3309 potential victims, 7% were from the Yorkshire and Humber region, with only London and the South East higher.

With the increase in the levels of modern slavery, the types of exploitation can include a vast number of industries. However, the victims of the Yorkshire and Humber region are more likely to become part of the agriculture industry. The NCA report showed that 36% of those that were discovered were part of the industry, the most prominent type of exploitation within the region.