The Salvation Army believes the economic and mental health impact of the pandemic could be to blame for the significant rise in the number of people targeted by criminals looking for 'slaves'
The charity filmed an interview with"Dan", a young man in his 20s who they helped after he had been forced into modern day slavery by a man who had initially befriended him.The man began by buying him meals and giving him cash, but suddenly announced that"Dan" owed him £50,000 and would have to start doing everything he told him to."He was taking money off me all time," he said."It was never ending. He beat me."He made me sell drugs.
The ordeal only ended when"Dan" got arrested and police quickly figured out that he was a victim of modern day slavery and released him. The pandemic may have changed circumstances for many people, but it seems criminal gangs have used it as an opportunity to keep making money out of other people's misery.