Coventry takes leading role in fight against modern slavery
The council will implement a new protocol
Coventry City Council is set to approve a groundbreaking new protocol to tackle modern slavery and exploitation across the city.
The Coventry Protocol for Addressing Adult Modern Slavery is the first comprehensive document to formalise the city's strategic and operational response to adult exploitation.
It will bring together more than 30 partner organisations, including West Midlands Police, NHS services, social housing providers and community groups.
The protocol comes as figures show 167 cases of adult exploitation were recorded by the Council in 2024. Of these, 30% related to labour exploitation, 28% to criminal exploitation and 22% to sexual exploitation.
Councillor Abdul Salam Khan, Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities, said: “Modern slavery is a hidden crime that devastates lives and communities.
“This protocol ensures we have a coordinated, comprehensive approach to tackle exploitation and protect vulnerable people in our city.
“No survivor should fall through the cracks – we now have clear pathways for support from first contact through to recovery.”
The protocol establishes specialist survivor support pathways designed to guide frontline professionals through every aspect of case management.
Some pathways are general for any professional to use, while others have been created specifically for priority teams including Adult Social Care, NHS services and Trading Standards.
The document was developed between October 2023 and November 2024 through extensive consultation with over 150 professionals, as well as an advisory panel formed of consultants with personal lived experience of modern slavery.
Key features of the protocol include:
Pursue and Prevent: Strategic approach to disrupting criminal networks and preventing exploitation
Protect: Comprehensive support pathways for survivors and vulnerable people
Prepare: Training and awareness for professionals and the public to recognise signs of modern slavery
Partnership: Multi-agency coordination through the Coventry Modern Slavery Partnership
The protocol aligns with the Council's legal responsibilities under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, which requires local authorities to identify and support potential survivors of trafficking and exploitation.
This protocol represents a step-change in how the city responds to modern slavery in Coventry. By bringing together diverse expertise and resources, the partnership is creating a unified and stronger response to this complex issue. The protocol ensures accountability and coordination across all agencies.
Modern slavery takes many forms including sexual exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude, forced criminality and financial exploitation. Victims can be adults or children of any gender, from all backgrounds and communities.
The protocol will be monitored quarterly by the Coventry Community Safety Partnership, with progress reports from the Harm and Abuse Reduction Partnership ensuring partners remain accountable for preventing and addressing modern slavery across the city.