Today I did an online two hour course by High Speed Training – and thankfully passed!
The modules were broken down into clear, informative parts for the lay person. We all make assumptions about terms such as ‘Modern Slavery’ ‘Trafficking’ ‘Exploitation’. The misconception is this goes on in hidden areas – not in our circles. However, key industries these issues have been found in include hospitality, fishing, factory work, food processing, leaflet delivery, tarmac, paving, agriculture, cannabis farms (these are in residential houses), domestic servitude, sex industry and criminal gangs – ATM thefts etc.
In 2000 the UN met in Palermo, Italy to agree three protocols. Clearly 18 years later, the problem is still there. So learning some possible signs and what agencies to involve has got to be a good thing. Knowledge is power after all.
Learning about the tools used by traffickers, including religious beliefs, has been an eye opener. Equally understanding and supporting someone who has experienced any kind of trauma/abuse can be misunderstood as lying due to not always being able to recall events easily or in the right order. We must remember trauma interferes with this process – people aren’t always lying.
Let’s not assume.
If you are interested in doing this online course check out http://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk.