Modern Slavery

Modern slavery is often hidden in plain sight in our countryside, towns and cities. We call the volunteers “Freedom Watchers” simply because, as they go about their everyday lives, they watch out for the thousands of souls in our Diocese who have no freedom.

Unsurprisingly, given how many slaves live among us, these volunteers have found people who were clearly being exploited. Observant, caring Freedom Watchers helped by calling the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700 and reporting what they had seen.

Ten highly vulnerable people have been given the chance of liberty by Freedom Watchers, simply through their raised awareness and willingness to lift a finger to help. That may not be a large number, but imagine the impact on the life of each person freed.

During the summer, a vulnerable woman was identified by a Freedom Watcher in one of our cities and reported to the Modern Slavery Helpline. It seemed that the woman was being cuckooed, that is, exploited by criminals who take over vulnerable people’s homes for illegal purposes such as drug dealing. The practice typically involves the coercion, manipulation and exploitation of the victim.

The Modern Slavery Helpline assesses calls and passes referrals on to the police or another appropriate agency. These calls often lead to the rescues of oppressed and downtrodden people that are reported in the media.

The greater the number of Freedom Watchers, the greater the number of enslaved people being found. As Pope Leo XIV put it in Dilexi Te: “The act of rescuing someone from slavery… is seen as an extension of Christ’s redemptive sacrifice.”

To raise further awareness, a free to attend conference on modern slavery is being held in Newmarket on Saturday 6 February. People may attend in person or, if they are unable to do so, watch via a livestream. A link will be available nearer the time on the Diocesan Modern Slavery webpages, which also provide more details about the conference and relevant contact information.

On 6 February 2027 the Diocese will be holding its first full modern slavery conference at the RC Church in Newmarket from 10-4pm. Details are available here 

All are encouraged to attend so that we can learn our role in ending this “wound in the body of Christ” that increasingly impacts us all.

​