The Diocese of Salford is planning workshops to help parishioners identify signs of local slavery and human trafficking.

Patrick O’Dowd, director of Caritas Salford said: “We are trying to raise awareness of the topic as a whole so that clergy and parishioners in local parishes are aware of what to do if someone says they are potentially being exploited, such as reaching out to local Police or the diocesan safeguarding team.”

Signs of someone being trafficked might include them looking malnourished or lacking “the appropriate protective equipment for the role they are doing – that could be for example, in an agricultural role,” said O’Dowd.

Cheap car washes and nail bars are often associated with modern slavery, yet O’Dowd said, “there are multiple routes [into slavery] including delivery drivers.”

In May, O’Dowd participated in a pilot training session in Salford Diocese on how to spot slavery and support victims. Modern Slavery: Breaking the Chains was run in partnership with the Santa Marta Group, Greater Manchester Police and the Medaille Trust.  

The workshops will also guide parishioners on making ethical purchases, and whether their lifestyle choices uphold or promote human dignity. “Are people using legitimate businesses that pay the living wage for example?” said O’Dowd.

Pauline Morgan, the chief operating officer for Salford diocese said it had already taken “significant steps to highlight slavery and to cut the risk of exposure in our supply chains, how we invest and in our local communities”.

She told The Tablet Salford diocese abides by a “code of conduct” to avoid “exploitative labour practices, upholding human dignity and avoiding negative consequences for the environment”.

All suppliers for the diocese, such as those involved in construction work at Salford Cathedral, “are expected to make active checks on their supply chain”, added Morgan.

According to O’Dowd, in Greater Manchester and Lancashire, there has been an “increase” in reports of potential trafficking victims to the government’s National Referral Mechanism which allows first responders, including the Police to register suspected victims of slavery.

Of the 40 million people estimated by the Global Slavery Index to be affected by human trafficking and slavery worldwide, 136,000 are believed to be in the UK.

On Wednesday 3 July, The Tablet will hold a webinar on “What does Christianity say about Human Trafficking”. The speakers include Ben Ryan of the Medaille Trust, Karen Anstiss, head Of Bakhita House at Caritas Bakhita House and Bill Woolfa, former federal task force officer and director of Human Trafficking Programs at the US Department of Justice. For tickets, please click here: Webinar: What does Christianity say about human trafficking? – The Tablet Publishing Company