Nottingham anti-exploitation model sets national standard for safety

A pioneering multi-agency partnership in Nottingham is being adopted as a national blueprint for tackling modern slavery and hidden exploitation. The Slavery Exploitation Team (SET), led by Nottingham City Council, has transitioned from a local pilot to a recognized authority on safeguarding vulnerable people from “hidden harm.” The approach is currently being evaluated by local authorities across the country as a viable model for disrupting criminal networks.

The initiative centers on the Slavery Exploitation Risk Assessment Conference (SERAC). This forum brings together Nottinghamshire Police, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, health partners, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and housing providers. By sharing intelligence across these diverse sectors, the partnership identifies individuals at risk of trafficking, domestic servitude, and criminal exploitation who might otherwise remain invisible to traditional social services.

Multi-agency response to hidden harm in Nottinghamshire

Unlike standard public-facing support services, the SET operates largely behind the scenes. This strategic positioning allows the team to coordinate safeguarding measures without alerting exploiters, often intervening before a situation escalates into a crisis. The team focuses on uncovering risks that lack a clear ownership or coordinated response among individual agencies.

Since its formal launch in 2019, SERAC has focused on the most complex cases where multiple forms of harm intersect. This includes cuckooing—where criminals take over the home of a vulnerable person to use it as a base for illegal activity—as well as financial exploitation and forced labor. The partnership ensures that when a concern is raised, the right agency takes immediate ownership of the safeguarding plan.

Measurable reduction in cuckooing and financial exploitation

Data from the six-month period between April and September 2025 highlights the scale of the challenge in the region. During this window, the team handled 246 county referrals. Financial exploitation and cuckooing emerged as the most frequent concerns. However, the coordinated intervention model has demonstrated a direct impact on community safety and antisocial behavior.

In several documented cuckooing cases, reports of disturbances and criminal activity dropped from dozens per month to zero following SERAC-led interventions. By removing the exploiters and securing the victim’s environment through a mix of police action and housing support, the partnership has effectively neutralized localized crime hubs. This success is underpinned by an extensive training program, which has seen nearly 1,200 frontline professionals educated on referral pathways and exploitation signs since late 2024.

Evolution of the Slavery Exploitation Team and SERAC

The SET originated in 2018 as a Home Office-funded pilot designed to support survivors leaving National Referral Mechanism (NRM) safehouses. It quickly became apparent that a gap existed in managing live exploitation cases where no single agency had the mandate to lead. In response, Nottingham City Council redeveloped the service to focus on unmanaged risk and multi-agency disruption of harm.

Councillor Matt Shannon, Executive Member for Community Protection, Neighbourhoods and Equalities, noted that the team’s work has been pioneering in identifying exploitation earlier. The model’s ability to move from identification to effective intervention is what has drawn the attention of national policymakers. The partnership approach is now a core component of the PCC’s Police and Crime Plan, particularly during initiatives like Op Sceptre Week, which focuses on tackling serious violence.

Academic validation and national policy influence

The effectiveness of the Nottinghamshire model is supported by external scrutiny. The Rights Lab at the University of Nottingham has referenced the team’s work in academic research, and the Local Government Association has highlighted SET within its national guide on modern slavery. This validation suggests that the collaborative framework developed in Nottingham is applicable to other urban and rural areas facing similar exploitation trends.

Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden emphasized that the strength of the approach lies in the speed of information sharing. Because modern slavery often occurs behind closed doors, the ability for organisations to come together quickly to safeguard individuals is critical. Mike Hill, Chair of the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Modern Slavery Partnership, described the impact as transformational, citing improved victim identification and enhanced support pathways across the county. Work continues to export this framework to other UK regions looking to strengthen their response to organized exploitation.

Source: Nottingham City Council

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Source check Editorial Verification

This report is based on official data and statements from the Nottingham City Council and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire.

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• Verified referral statistics (246 cases) for the 2025 reporting period.
• Confirmed partnership details involving SET and SERAC frameworks.
• Cross-referenced academic mentions by The Rights Lab at the University of Nottingham.

Nottingham City Council News Check Nottinghamshire Modern Slavery stats

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Nottingham City Council News

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Nottingham

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2026-05-21 13:23

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Article contextPeople & topics3#7

Matt ShannonGary GoddenMike Hill

#Cuckooing#Modern Slavery#Nottingham#Nottinghamshire Police#Public Safety#Safeguarding#SERAC

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