Campaigners welcome The Archers anti-slavery storyline

The tranquil rural setting of BBC Radio 4's The Archers may not be the first place that springs to mind when you think of human trafficking. Yet - as listeners to the popular show have discovered - behind the scenes in Ambridge, modern slavery is very real. The issue emerges in the show when builder Philip Moss sets about organising his retirement. He doesn't just hand over equipment and a van to his son, but three young British men - or 'horses' who work for him.

As the story unfolds, it's been revealed that the three - Blake, Jordan and Kenzie - kept as slaves on the outskirts of the viilage, have a learning or mental health disability. An exaggeration? Well in 2017, the Rooney gang - a Lincolnshire-based family - were convicted of trafficking 18 men into hard labour for their driveway resurfacing company.

Many modern slaves of course are undocumented migrants who are unable to work legally. Last summer, the Gangmaster and Labour Abuse Authority (set up after 23 undocumented Chinese cockle pickers drowned in Morecambe Bay in 2004) found 40 people illegally harvesting shellfish on Redcar beach. In 2019, the number of victims of modern slavery rescued and referred to the Home Office was recorded as 10,627.

Sr Imelda Poole IBVM, OBE who leads RENATE, the European Sisters anti-trafficking and anti slavery network, told ICN: "The key emotional issue, which I think the script writers are trying to bring out in The Archers, is the impact of modern day slavery on the villagers of Ambridge. They have clearly been taken in by the amazingly clever subterfuge and 'sweet' lying of Philip. The villagers feel deeply guilty that they were taken in and were complicit with the horror of the heinous crime of human trafficking, modern day slavery. This is a reality in everyday life for probably all of us who do not regularly check our ethical buying. We do not research whether the footprint of companies is clean, from the abuse of modern slaves or not. Is our criteria for purchasing based on obtaining: cheap goods, cheap services, cheap labour? As Pope Francis said: An economy without human trafficking is: 'an economy that values and cares for the human being and of nature. It is inclusive and does not exploit the most vulnerable.'"

Dr Carole Murphy, Acting Director of the Bakhita Centre for Research on Slavery Exploitation and Abuse, said: "Storylines such as these are an important part of raising the public understanding of how modern slavery can unknowingly permeate every community in the country. Victims of human trafficking often live in plain sight under the control of their exploiters, who target vulnerable people with disabilities, drug and alcohol abusers, or people who are homeless. We should all see it as our responsibility to check who we are employing and raise any concerns we have with the authorities to play our part in ending the crimes of modern slavery and human exploitation."

Phil Kerton from Seeking Sanctuary, said: "The programme has a long and valuable history of bringing evils to the attention of its listeners. Seasonal agricultural workers and others sourced from gang masters - even those working in well-organised businesses - are hidden from the world at large in farm buildings, dormitories and caravans, concealed behind hedges in rural by-ways. Busy planting and harvesting crops, they have little leisure time and rarely know how to get to towns and meet people, yet they are essential to our appetite for affordable food. The Archers scriptwriters have shone a welcome light upon this sector where our brothers and sisters can so easily experience the loss of dignity and freedom that accompany a slave economy."

Brigidine Sister Mary Patricia Mulhall who has worked in anti-trafficking since 2005, with the Medaille Trust, TRACuk and RENATE in Europe said: "I welcome the exposure of labour trafficking that is getting an airing on the longest-running radio story 'The Archers' with an audience of some five million listeners. The scourge of labour trafficking, where millions are exploited for profit, is a growing global crime against humanity. It carries substantial risks for companies, yet all the while it is taking place in our local and national communities. It needs to be exposed for what it is - a violation of the dignity of the human person, reducing human persons to mere merchandise to be bought and sold."

The Archers' modern slavery story has more surprises in store for 2021. But, for now - it's created a space to think about an extremely hidden group of individuals who have been failed by society before being further devalued and traumatised by criminals.

Read more about The Archers here - www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qpgr

For advice and information - if you think someone may be a victim of human trafficking, see: www.kent.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/ms/modern-slavery/