Reporting, Effectiveness and Accountability
To evaluate the impact of our efforts, Coventry City Council monitors and reports on:
9.1 Reports of modern slavery
The Local Authority encourages professionals and the public to report instances of modern slavery via the online form. In 2024, the Council received reports for 167 cases relating to survivors, perpetrators and locations of adult modern slavery, see below data summary for further details.
2024 data headlines
167 total cases, split between the following:
| Type | Percentage of cases |
|---|---|
|
Labour |
30% |
|
Criminal |
28% |
|
Sexual |
22% |
|
Financial |
4% |
|
Domestic Servitude |
4% |
| Other/unknown | 12% |
| Gender of survivor | Percentage of cases |
|---|---|
|
Men |
48% |
|
Women |
27% |
| Unknown | 25% |
| Nationality | Percent |
|---|---|
| British | 20% |
| Vietnamese | 5% |
| Iraqi | 5% |
| Afghan | 5% |
| Eritrean | 5% |
| Other/unknown | 60% |
9.2 Reports to the National Referral Mechanism
Section 52 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 introduced a duty to notify the secretary of state of any survivors of Modern Slavery. This duty applies to a number of public bodies including Local Authorities. The Local Authority is committed to referring child and adult survivors of modern slavery to the National Referral Mechanism in accordance with their right to consent. In 2024, Coventry City Council made 39 referrals to the National Referral Mechanism.
9.3 Training participation rates
In 2024, the Council’s Modern Slavery Lead provided over 20 modern slavery training sessions, reaching over 200 professionals. Over 500 people signed up to the 14 free training sessions that the Council coordinated to mark Anti-Slavery Day on 18 October 2024. Furthermore, over 270 Council employees have completed internal modern slavery training to date.
In addition, all Procurement Services’ Category Managers (x5 FTE), Category Officers (x3 FTE), Category Assistant (x1 FTE) and the Deputy Head of Procurement undertake an annual recertification of Ethical Procurement via the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS)
9.4 Feedback from employees and community stakeholders
During a 2024 survey amongst the Local Authority and its partners, 100% of respondents agreed that the Council’s response to modern slavery had improved since the Modern Slavery Lead was appointed. 100% of respondents agreed that the Council provides useful advice, training, and resources about modern slavery concerns, and over 95% of respondents agreed that the Council is effective in safeguarding victims of modern slavery. Further feedback included:
"Having a lead who takes responsibility for strategy, networking and compliance has made a significant difference. Having someone able to give guidance to practitioners with case responsibility is crucial."
"Excellent service with limited capacity of current individual. Increase in staff would help in supporting the lead."
"The Council's modern slavery lead is very proactive and is very good at working closely with the police. She is extremely passionate and goes the extra mile."
"Having a dedicated modern slavey lead has enhanced the Council's ability to identify and respond to Modern Slavery."
"There have been an array of training processes, increased external collaboration, new initiatives, forums and groups that can improve dove-tail of support services, enabling eligible victims to be appropriately considered against Council duties."
"There is a coordinator, someone who knows the field and can respond quickly and with knowledge. Also, the Council are keen to push the agenda of tackling Modern Slavery."
"Having a defined point of contact has definitely proved advantageous in developing the local authorities approach."
"The Modern slavery lead is the go-to within Coventry. She is extremely knowledgeable and well-linked."
"Coventry Council is taking a pro-active approach which is rare for most councils."
"The Council's strength is having a certain person who can signpost and get appropriate teams in LA together to holistically support a victim."
"The Council have become more focused and thorough in developing an effective referral mechanism for professionals and/or the wider public reporting concerns of modern-day slavery."
"I have been really impressed by the progress that has been made in the last 12 months."
"The Modern Slavery Lead has been doing excellent work in addressing the need for a city-wide strategy and implementing this through task and finish groups with multi-agency attendance."
"We now have a lead to help discuss our concerns and gain advice on how to proceed with difficult cases."
"Thank you to the Modern Slavery Lead for all your commitment to helping victims of modern-day slavery."
"The Modern Slavery Lead is very proactive in addressing any issues that are reported in the area and communicates with us on a regular basis to come up with solutions."