Seeing the unseen – How much do you really know about modern slavery and how close it might be to your daily life?
More than 400 years after the transatlantic slave trade, slavery still exists today. It looks different now, hidden in plain sight, yet it continues to devastate lives across the world, including here in the UK.
Modern slavery is the world’s fastest growing crime. It thrives in the shadows of everyday life, in supply chains, private homes and in industries we all rely on. Victims are often subjected to coercion, debt or deceit, stripped of their freedom and dignity. Modern slavery includes forced, child and bonded labour, among others.
Unseen is one of the UK’s leading anti-slavery charities, working tirelessly to change this reality. Since 2008, the organisation has been at the forefront of tackling modern slavery and exploitation, supporting survivors, influencing legislation and working with businesses, communities and governments to drive real change.
From survivor safehouses and thousands of calls to the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline to shaping national policy and partnering with diverse organisations across the country, Unseen’s journey has been a dedication to its mission: to build a world without slavery.
Modern slavery – the hidden crime in our everyday lives
Modern slavery is one of the most serious and overlooked crimes. Fundamentally, it is the deliberate and forced commodification of a human being for profit; a grave violation of human rights and an economic injustice.
This crime is not something that happens solely abroad or in history books. It’s happening today, right here in the UK, often in plain sight.
Recent estimates suggest that around 122,000 people are living in conditions of modern slavery in the UK today. Using Home Office figures and data gathered through Unseen’s Helpline, it is estimated that this exploitation costs the UK up to £60 billion every year. This is the equivalent of building around 50 new hospitals or 750 new schools and is a staggering reminder of modern slavery’s human and economic toll.
Instances of modern slavery occur when people are exploited and unable to leave due to threats, deception or abuse of power. It can include being forced to work for very little or no pay, working in unsafe conditions, having wages or documents withheld, and having freedom of movement or communication restricted.
Modern slavery affects people of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds. Many victims are deceived by false promises of employment or a better life, only to find themselves stuck, controlled and stripped of their freedom.
What makes this crime particularly insidious is how deeply woven into the fabric of everyday life it is. From the clothes we wear and the food we eat to the care we receive and the services we use, exploitation can be found across global and local supply chains. According to Unseen’s 2024 Annual Assessment, labour exploitation remains the most common form of modern slavery reported. Sectors such as care, construction, hospitality and personal services (like car washes and nail bars) represent a significant proportion of cases.
Modern slavery often goes unnoticed because it hides behind ordinary business practices and complex supply chains. Yet, its impact is anything but invisible. It destroys lives and damages communities.
That’s why Unseen continues to raise awareness, support survivors and work with businesses, policymakers and the public to shine a light on this hidden crime and bring about real change.
17 years of impact
In 2008, friends Andrew Wallis and Kate Garbers founded Unseen after hearing stories of human trafficking in Ukraine and discovering that traffickers were passing through UK airports. In realising that modern slavery was not as distant as they initially thought, Andrew and Kate resolved to give survivors of trafficking a safe place to rebuild their lives.
In an interview with Andrew, discussing the inception of Unseen, he said: “It was a gut response to a problem. I think people give up too easily. For me, it’s about internal motivation and a commitment to trying to bring some justice.”
From that small start in Bristol, Unseen has become a national force for change, shaping laws, supporting survivors and tackling exploitation across sectors.
By 2009, Unseen had co-founded the South West Anti-Slavery Partnership alongside Bristol City Council and Avon & Somerset Police, fostering collaboration between local authorities, police and community organisations. In 2011, the charity launched its first safehouse for survivors, followed by outreach services that continue to support people rebuilding their lives after exploitation.
A defining milestone came in 2013, when Unseen’s CEO, Andrew Wallis, chaired the It Happens Here report, a landmark investigation by the Centre for Social Justice that directly inspired the Modern Slavery Act 2015. This ground-breaking legislation placed legal responsibility on UK businesses to address slavery in their supply chains, establishing Unseen as a key voice in shaping national policy.
In 2016, Unseen, in partnership with BT, launched the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, a free, independent and confidential service offering guidance and support. By 2023, the Helpline had been contacted nearly 50,000 times, identified tens of thousands of potential victims and informed national intelligence on slavery and exploitation.
Over the years, Unseen has expanded its reach through business partnerships, survivor consultancy and international initiatives. This influence has spanned from major awareness campaigns to strategic collaborations across sectors.
The impact today
Today, Unseen continues to combine purpose with action. In 2024 alone, Unseen identified 4,839 potential victims through the Helpline, provided tailored outreach services to 278 survivors and worked with businesses like McLaren Construction Group, Lloyd’s Banking Group, and Sainsbury’s to combat forced labour.
From one safehouse to a national movement, Unseen is driven by the belief that a world without slavery is possible.
Role of businesses
Every organisation regardless of size or sector, is connected to a network of suppliers, business partners, contractors and services that could knowingly or unknowingly enable exploitation.
For those working in procurement, investments, and supply chains, the risk is especially significant. The complexity of global and domestic supply networks means it’s often difficult to trace every step of production, allowing modern slavery to thrive. Perpetrators of modern slavery act deliberately and strategically, exploiting weaknesses in an organisation’s safeguarding measures to identify vulnerabilities and profit from abuse.
Addressing this requires a multi-pronged approach, including verifiable and transparent supply chain mapping, human and labour rights risk assessments, and robust due diligence. It also involves establishing mechanisms to gather the authentic voices of rights holders, alongside a clear business responsibility to provide remedy where they have been directly involved in rights and abuses and to use their influence where they play an indirect role.
Working together for a slavery-free future
Working with Unseen’s Business Services team will help you mitigate the risk of exploitation within your operations and supply chains. We offer a range of consultancy and training services to help achieve this and understand how you can strengthen your ethical procurement.
If you’d like to help survivors rebuild their lives, donate to Unseen.
Learn more about modern slavery risks in procurement by listening to our conversation on the London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC) Linked Podcast.
Our thanks to the LUPC team for featuring this piece and for continuing to highlight the importance of tackling modern slavery.
If you are a potential victim, member of the public, professional, or business concerned about modern slavery, read through our Frequently Asked Questions on our website or contact the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline.
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