Hundreds of modern slavery survivors from West Midlands referred for help

A report shows hundreds of victims were referred to The Salvation Army for help over the past six years.

It comes as the charity has claimed the number of people forced into labour, prostitution and domestic servitude has soared across the UK.

Anne Read, Salvation Army’s director of anti trafficking and modern slavery, said: “Year on year we are witnessing progress in the way the UK tackles this crime.

"We see high levels of dedication, commitment and innovation from the people who work for The Salvation Army and alongside us to provide the most effective service we can to families and individuals who deserve the very best we can give, having suffered at the hands of people who would abuse and exploit them.

"We are strongly committed to working in partnership and believe that there is more to be achieved when we combine forces and collaborate in our efforts to prevent trafficking and protect its victims."

The Salvation Army said it has seen a 300 per cent increase in referrals across the country since it started running the government's contract for victim support in 2011 - with a total of 5,868 supported in six years.

Across the West Midlands, 174 people in need of support were referred to the charity from July 2016 and June 2017, compared with just 40 between July 2011 and June 2012. In total, 707 vulnerable people from the county have been helped by the charity, The Salvation Army said.

The Express & Star revealed last month that West Midlands Police has not prosecuted a single person for modern slavery offences in the last two years.

Since April 2015 the force has investigated 294 crimes under the Modern Slavery Act - landmark legislation that was designed to tackle slavery and people trafficking in the UK. But a Freedom of Information request shows that there have been zero prosecutions over the period, which saw only four people being charged. The figures show that in 116 of the cases, officers were unable to identify a suspect.

The figures from the police show how difficult it is to identify those responsible for slavery. Victims are also often reluctant to give evidence in court.

Charity leaders are now urging residents to be alert to modern slavery taking place within their communities The Salvation Army says victims had been trafficked into the West Midlands from 95 different countries over the past year, compared to just 43 in 2011, including Albania, Vietnam, Nigeria and the Philippines.

Ms Read added: "The Salvation Army has made a global commitment to fighting modern slavery and human trafficking and we are delighted in the UK to have made a positive contribution to this through our new projects in Nigeria, as well as the Philippines.

"We believe the model of community-led re-integration and support is effective, efficient and relatively easily replicated – the kind of programme we need to tackle such large-scale global crime and with potential to impact positively on the situation in the UK.

"The Salvation Army is in this fight for as long as it takes for the war to be won."