 Hi there, and welcome to this special Cooperative News broadcast. It's estimated that there are around 45 million people in slavery worldwide, 13,000 of those victims living in the UK. Modern slavery refers to the crimes of forced or compulsory labour, human trafficking, slavery and servitude. Let's look at these crimes in more detail. Forced or compulsory labour, forced to work under threat of punishment. Human trafficking, arranging or facilitating travel for a victim with a view to their exploitation, slavery and servitude, controlling the victim as if they were legally owned. In all these crimes, the victim loses their freedom and is exploited for personal or commercial gain. Modern slavery could be hiding in the supply chain of any business, whatever the industry. Take this egg. Do you know all the people that were involved with getting it to your breakfast table for you to enjoy? It's shocking to think that modern slavery could have been involved in the process, but this is what happened in Kent. A group of men were trafficked to the UK to work on farms producing free-range eggs for a number of UK supermarkets. The men were forced to work for little pay, had their wages withheld and were denied appropriate rest and sanitation. If you had known about the signs, would you have been suspicious? Cooperative businesses have a long history of campaigning against slavery. The early founders of the Cooperative Wholesale Society supported Abraham Lincoln's campaign to end the US slave trade. Today, cooperatives lead the way by selling fair trade products which require producers to abide by good labour standards. Cooperatives are zero tolerant of modern slavery, but there is a risk it could still be hiding within the business or its supply chains. You can help to identify colleagues who could be victims of modern slavery so they can get the support they need and prevent the business from buying goods or services from suppliers using modern slavery. Suppliers range from businesses supplying the screen or mobile you are using to watch this video to the suppliers providing your business with raw materials and products. How You Can Help 1. Follow company procurement processes. 2. Be vigilant to the signs of modern slavery. 3. Report any suspicions to your line manager or follow the whistle-blowing policy. What are the signs you should look out for? 1. Appearance. Do they have clothes suitable for their job? Are they ill or have signs of physical abuse? Do they have few personal possessions? 2. Words. Do they avoid questions? Do they look for someone else to answer? 3. Freedom. Are their movements controlled to and from work? 4. Behaviour. Do they appear fearful of you or the authorities? If you believe there is an immediate threat of danger, always call 999. A trained individual will be able to help the victim. Thanks for tuning in. You can get more help at the cooperative UK website.