West Yorkshire slavery survivor is the inspiration behind a new film

The short film coincides with UN World Day Against Trafficking and is aimed at communities in West Yorkshire as reports of this crime have increased in the region over the past two years.

It follows a young woman moving from her home country to the UK and hopes to raise awareness and encourage more people to report domestic servitude incidents.

Domestic servitude typically involves victims working in a private family home where they are ill-treated, humiliated, subjected to unbearable conditions or working hours, and made to work for little or no pay. 

West Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime and Chair of the National Anti-Trafficking and Modern Slavery Network, Alison Lowe said: 

“We know that domestic servitude is one of the least identified exploitation types of modern slavery in the UK, accounting for almost 8% of reports behind labour, sexual and criminal exploitation.

This does not mean that it is necessarily less common, but because it literally occurs behind closed doors, it isn’t identified or recorded.

With the anonymised animation depicting the actual experience of a survivor, it has a very strong emotional connection, which we hope will both confront the issue head-on and prompt greater reporting.”

Detective Chief Inspector Fiona Gaffney, of West Yorkshire Police, added: “West Yorkshire Police takes all aspects of modern slavery and human trafficking seriously and works closely with partners to make sure that victims are supported by our specialist investigation officers, and action is taken against those proven to be involved in their exploitation.”

She hopes that the film will make the signs of domestic servitude easier for people to spot and encourage those who may recognise someone they know in this situation and contact the police.

To find out more, report, or get support, visit https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/policing-and-crime/domestic-servitude-animation