Crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers is today launching a campaign to fight human trafficking by encouraging people to pass on information about forced labour exploitation anonymously.

The campaign comes weeks after a Bradford man and four other members of the same family were jailed after a court heard how they lived a luxurious lifestyle at the expense of vulnerable men forced to work for a pittance.

It is being launched, with the UK Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) and is supported by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) as it was revealed the crime is worth £20 billion a year.

It is estimated there are 21 million victims of forced labour, including forced sexual exploitation and people trapped in jobs into which they were coerced. Results of a recent poll in the North of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland indicating that only 22 per cent of people see human trafficking as a widespread problem.

Yorkshire & Humberside Regional Manager for Crimestoppers, Dave Hunter, said: “People being trafficked for forced labour is a crime that needs to be stamped out – and we need your help to make that happen.

“It’s not right that people are being deceived by these criminals into thinking their life is going to be better, and we need you to pass on any information you might have, no matter how small you think it might be, to help bring them to justice.”

The campaign includes a hard-hitting YouTube video, where viewers experience the story of one young victim as she is thrust into a world different from the one she and many other trafficked individuals, are promised.

If you have information surrounding human trafficking call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Experts say signs of exploitation include people forced to live in cramped or overcrowded conditions and people who are collected very early and returned late at night on a regular basis.