Romanian crime gangs are grooming vulnerable young girls online before forcing them into prostitution across the West Midlands, an anti-slavery charity has warned.

The victims are being trafficked into the UK under false pretences, only to be recruited for sex work under the control of a trafficker, global charity Hope for Justice revealed.

The gangs are plying the girls with drugs or alcohol and advertising their 'services' online while restricting their every move, one of the region's investigators says.

These new organised gangs from Romania are "filling the void" in the West Midlands, he explains, after the charity busted the UK's largest modern slavery ring in history.

Britain's biggest slavery gang now jailed over horrific crimes

Just last year, the charity foiled an evil slavery gang which made £2million from victims it forced to live in squalor and wash in canals.

Operation Fort - the three year investigation alongside West Midlands Police detectives - saw nine gang members jailed for more than 50 years over empires built on misery and violence.

But as they were imprisoned, the charity says the door opened for another crime gang to move in on the region.

Over the past year, the charity has seen a rise in activities of crime gangs, with many illegally trafficking girls from Romania to force them into sex work.

“Since Operation Fort, when we worked alongside police to foil the largest modern slavery and trafficking gang in UK history, we have noticed Romanian crime gangs filling the vacated void," the Hope for Justice investigator, based in the West Midlands, said.

“Young women are being particularly targeted, with gangs recruiting them into sexual exploitation.

"These victims have difficulty reaching out for help for all sorts of reasons, including fears of being deported, misinformation instilled into them by their gang masters, or language barriers.

“These Romanian crime gangs are highly organised and structured. Young Romanian girls are being contacted online and drawn into false relationships.

"They are tricked to come to the UK, only to be recruited into sex work when they arrive.

"They are made dependent on drugs or alcohol, and placed into sex work, with their services being advertised online. But all the while, their movements are being controlled by their ‘boyfriend’ – a trafficker.”

What is the charity doing?

Hope for Justice has launched a new initiative across the UK to raise awareness of modern-day slavery among the Romanian community living in the Midlands.

The charity is now working with 'Street Pastors' to raise the profile of this issue and to signpost potential victims to support.

As part of the new partnership with Street Pastors, the charity says leaflets will be distributed in locations where vulnerable people are known to attend.

Hope for Justice says these will inform people about modern slavery, explain how to spot the signs, and signpost victims to support that is available at Hope for Justice.

How to spot the signs of human trafficking and modern slavery

Signs to watch out for:

-  Workers looking confused, anxious, and letting others talk on their behalf

- Lights on at business premises at night, suggesting people are sleeping there

- Groups of workers being picked up or dropped off at strange times, from a residential property or business

-  People showing a fear of the authorities

-  Workers showing signs of physical or psychological trauma (anxiety, lack of memory of recent events, bruising, untreated conditions)

-  Workers who are ignorant of employment rights and have no contract nor payslips, and will be wary of telling others about their life or work

-  In extreme cases, they may show signs of having been physically restrained, be under the impression they are being controlled by witchcraft, or have untreated health or dental problems

It is important to realise that victims will almost never self-identify as such, due to fear, manipulation or ignorance.

They are almost always vulnerable in some way, which is why they are targeted in the first place. This can be anything from addiction, to a mental health problem, to having recently left care, prison or the military and so lacking support networks of family or friends.

Engaging fully with victims once the initial circumstances are established is best left to the experts – advice on contacting Hope for Justice is below. If we cannot help directly, we can signpost you to the best alternative organisation.

Call 0300 008 8000 (local rate call, office hours) or email info@hopeforjustice.org. If someone’s life may be in danger, always call 999 first.

 

It is also hoped that this partnership will serve as a pathway, with referrals being made to the charity, so that its investigative teams can take action.

Investigators are deployed across the region to respond to referrals of potential trafficking cases and to proactively identify victims, the charity says.

Just as with Operation Fort - they work closely with the police and other agencies to share intelligence, prevent exploitation, rescue victims, and support survivors.

The West Midlands investigator added: “This new stream of our work opens up huge potential for identifying those who are vulnerable and at risk.

"We are really pleased to be working alongside Street Pastors to identify victims of slavery and to signpost them to the support that is available. We are also working closely with the police, sharing information with the aim to see more people rescued from exploitation.”