How To Stop Modern Slavery

Stopping modern slavery in a specific case is not something one person does alone. If you suspect someone is being exploited, the useful actions are narrow and ordered. Make sure they are safe, record what you saw, and hand it to people with the power to act. The instinct to sort it out yourself is the one to resist.

Where there is immediate danger, call 000 and let everything else wait. Otherwise the reporting route in Australia is 131 AFP (237) or the AFP’s confidential online form. A report is not the same as starting a prosecution. The Australian Federal Police describes a victim-centric approach, and says that where prosecution is not suitable its investigators look for ways to prevent and disrupt the offending instead.

Four things matter in the hours before that call:

• Do not confront the employer, the supervisor or the labour hire contact. It raises the risk to the person and can cost investigators the case.
• Do not run your own investigation. Write down what you observed, with dates and times. Observations carry further than conclusions.
• Do not promise an outcome you cannot control, including a promise that police will not be involved.
• Check whether a route exists that does not require a police report. The Forced Marriage Specialist Support Program is one, on 1800 403 213.

The organisational fix comes afterwards rather than instead. That is where incident reporting people actually trust earns its keep, along with training that covers how to respond safely and not only how to spot a problem. Reports to the AFP have risen year on year, which it attributes partly to more people recognising the signs. Circumstances differ and the law changes, so treat this as general information rather than legal advice and get proper advice on anything specific.

Sentrient’s modern slavery course sits alongside the wider compliance training courses.