Peter’s story - trafficked to forced labour in a car wash: Anti-slavery day, 18 October 2019
Peter moved from Romania to the UK in 2014, hoping to find a better life for himself and a job that would allow him to support his mother back home.
He stayed with his sister while he looked for work, then moved to Scotland to work in an Indian restaurant.
But a friend from home who had also moved to the UK called one day to tell Peter about a job opportunity at a car wash in London, which would be better paid and provide accommodation.
Peter accepted the job straight away and moved to London.
However, it was not what he had expected. He lived in a tiny house with at least four other men, sometimes more, sharing a cramped room with another man.
After working his first week, Peter asked when he would be paid, to which his boss responded: “Your first week’s pay is your deposit to work here. You’ll get paid next week.”
The next week he was still wasn’t paid, and it became clear he wasn’t going to be.
Peter was forced to work 12 hours a day, six days a week. He was physically drained and wanted to leave.
One night, the men who ran the car wash told him he would have to open fraudulent bank accounts for money-laundering purposes. He refused but his boss threatened him repeatedly, saying: “I can find and hurt your family. You work for us now; you belong to us.”
Peter’s boss produced fake IDs, but Peter did what he could to delay the process as he was scared and didn’t want to be involved.
He hoped the police would notice the counterfeits so he could tell them his situation and get help, but the fraudulent documents were too realistic.
“One night, when the bosses were drinking and taking drugs, I decided it was my chance to get away. I grabbed some of the fake IDs in the house and ran to the nearest police station.
“I was really scared they would come after me, and feared the police wouldn’t believe me. When I got to the police station, it was closed. I had to get to another station as fast as I could. I ran in and said: “I need help”, throwing the collection of fake identities onto the reception desk.”
The police believed Peter and referred him into the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), a framework for identifying victims of human trafficking and ensuring they receive the appropriate protection and support.
He moved to one of City Hearts’ safehouses, where he received support in getting a legitimate ID, access to medical services and counselling to help him recover.
“When I first arrived at the safe house I felt a little confused and unsure what to expect, but I soon began to feel safe and protected,” he said.
“City Hearts helped me so much by getting me identification, helping me to find accommodation and finding English classes for me, which has made me feel much more confident. After I left the safe house I attended weekly drop-in sessions, where we played games and did activities.
“Now, I feel happy and safe. My life has changed completely.”
Anti-Slavery Day, 18th October, provides an opportunity to raise awareness of human trafficking and modern slavery, and encourage government, local authorities, companies, charities and individuals to do what they can to address the problem. It was created by the Anti-Slavery Day Act, a Private Members Bill introduced Anthony Steen CBE, now Chair of the Human Trafficking Foundation.
Each year more and more charities, individuals, local authorities and police forces take action to mark Anti-Slavery Day.
The Human Trafficking Foundation hosts Anti-Slavery Day Awards to recognise journalists, filmmakers and broadcasters who have exposed issues of modern slavery, and to celebrate organisations and individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the fight against modern slavery. Find out more by visiting humantraffickingfoundation.org
To volunteer, donate, fundraise or intern at City Hearts, see https://city-hearts.co.uk/getinvolved
For more details or to book an interview, Kate Partlow is City Hearts’ communications officer 0114 213 2066 mobile (media use only): 07936 349 914 kate.partlow@cityhearts.co.uk office