
Every country, regardless of its level of economic development, is affected by human trafficking and modern slavery. The International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2016 estimated that there are around 40.3 million victims of modern slavery worldwide, with almost 62% subjected to labour exploitation. Perpetrators trick people with false promises of a better life, well-paid jobs, education, and comfortable accommodation. In reality, victims are forced to work long hours for little or no pay and usually live in squalid, overcrowded conditions. Intelligence reports have identified the Fenlands as a hotspot for labour exploitation. The current report focuses on the situation in Wisbech and surrounding areas including Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.