Since 2004 when 23 young Chinese men, who had been smuggled into the UK, were drowned off Morecambe Bay while picking cockles for a criminal gang there has been a growing understanding of the issue of modern slavery in rural areas.
Rural areas are effected by several different types of modern slavery just as towns and cities are. In fact, in some respects rural areas can offer a more attractive prospect to potential criminal exploiters. For example, the presence of seasonal industries with high demand for short term labour; remote locations where criminal operations can be hidden and the challenge that monitoring larger more sparsely populated areas poses to the authorities.
Modern slavery in rural areas
Modern slavery is not just an urban problem, the same types of slavery found in towns and cities are present in the countryside too, however there are some distinctive features of modern slavery in rural areas.
In towns and cities it can be hidden amongst the hustle and bustle but in rural areas modern slavery is often hidden off the beaten track in remote locations.
Labour exploitation
Some sectors are predominantly rural in their operations with companies having high needs for low skilled, relatively low paid and often temporary labour. For example, agriculture, horticulture, food packing and processing, fishing related businesses, construction and hospitality. These sectors often have major seasonal peaks in demand for a limited supply of workers. The work can be gruelling with long hours with little job security, resulting in workers and employers being vulnerable to criminal exploiters who are adept at hiding signs of exploitation and modern slavery.
Well established and reputable businesses can be infiltrated by modern slavery without their knowledge or consent - that's why it is vital that there is better awareness and understanding of how and where modern slavery can happen.
As well as sectors where victims of modern slavery can be hidden amongst a large workforce, forced labour and labour exploitation also happen in smaller businesses such as hand car washes and nail bars, in these cases often the business owner or manager is involved in the exploitation.
County Lines and Cuckooing
County lines involves organised criminal gang operating in large towns and cities who coerce vulnerable children and young people to act as mules to run drugs out into rural areas. To aid their expansion into rural areas, gangs also use a practice known as 'cuckooing' where they take over houses of vulnerable local people to use as a base for their local activities.
Sexual exploitation
Urban areas are not the sole preserve of sexual exploitation either. There may be a misconception that this type of modern slavery is only present in areas known for a predominance of sex workers, however victims of sexual exploitation are found in remote rural areas too. A particular feature of sexual exploitation in rural areas is 'pop-up brothels', where victims are trafficked to temporary brothels which take over holiday lets in rural areas, often during off-season. Lots of men coming in and out of the property at odd hours is often a tell-tale sign.
tools and resources for rural communities
Awareness, education and vigilance are vital to tackling modern slavery and identifying victims in rural as well as urban areas. Take a look at some of the tools and resources that specifically address the distinctive features of modern slavery in rural areas.
