As you will see in this report by the BBC, Aurel is just one of many modern day slaves that are here in the UK. Thankfully he has been rescued and given a new life, but the report makes it very clear that sadly there are likely to be many others like Aurel, who have not been so fortunate.

The report states that there are over 300 live police investigations into modern slavery. We are certainly aware that many investigations are being conducted by the Gangmasters Licensing and Abuse Authority (GLAA) as we have been training their officers in the interview skills necessary to obtain good quality evidence from victims and witnesses, and you can read more details about our work with the GLAA here.

We have often heard people expressing surprise that the slave does not simply walk away and/or seek help. Watching the interview with Aurel, it becomes clear that the power over the slave by the owner (and we are talking about someone who effectively owns another human being) is immense. Aurel talks about simply being too frightened to walk away.

Aurel has been found accommodation by the Palm Cove Society, which is a social enterprise that finds accommodation for many people in need, including victims of modern slavery.

We know that modern slavery is all around us, and that businesses and individuals need to be alive to the potential, and be prepared to report their concerns. Reports such as the current one by the BBC are very welcome in helping to maintain and raise public awareness.

For our part, we have created a one day Modern Slavery Awareness course designed to help businesses educate themselves and their staff about the implications of modern slavery for the business.