There is blanket media coverage of ‘London’s shame’ – the news of the escape of three women who had been held as slaves in Lambeth for 30 years. The women were trapped in domestic servitude, which means that there is no sexual dimension to the crime. I suppose we be must thankful for small mercies; but, as everyone is right to say, a slave is a slave is a slave.
Indeed, the incarcerators allowed their captives to leave the house from time to time, which implies that the slaves were controlled by psychology rather than shackles. It’s a sickening thought because it’s difficult for charity workers, law enforcement and ordinary members of the public to recognise servitude that exists in plain sight.
There is an added layer of complexity in that trafficking is a complicated crime. Organised criminals are known to specialise in it, especially in providing bodies for the sex trade and illegal manual labour.
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