Thames Valley Police - Raising Awareness of Abuse Campaign

Find out more about our campaign to raise awareness of abuse across Thames Valley.Our Hidden Harm campaign aims to raise awareness of abuse happening in the heart of our communities across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
Hidden Harm is the undetected and unreported abuse of a person or people. Abuse can happen in lots of ways, it doesn’t have to be physical. People can also be abused emotionally, psychologically and financially.
Over 18 months we will be bringing a number of different abuse-related crimes into the spotlight, encouraging members of the public to spot the signs and report their concerns. This will include:

• Modern slavery
• Child abuse
• Honour based abuse
• Forced marriage
• Female genital mutilation
• Domestic abuse
• Hate crime

The message at the heart of our campaign is simple – Open your eyes to abuse. It could be happening in your community so if you suspect it, report it.
We all have a role to play in keeping people safe from harm. Information we receive from members of the public is vital to ensuring we identify these crimes, protect victims and bring offenders to justice.
If you think someone you know may be a victim of abuse please contact us on 101 or 999 in an emergency. Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Follow the campaign on our social media channels using #HiddenHarm.


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Message sent by
Holly Turner (Police, Comms Officer, Thames Valley)
Three modern slavery crimes are recorded every week across Thames Valley*.
Could you spot the signs?

Today (2/10) we are launching our Hidden Harm campaign, raising awareness of abuse in the heart of our communities. 

Over the next 18 months we will be bringing a number of different abuse-related crimes, which often go undetected or unreported, into the spotlight. The first focus is modern slavery.

The message at the centre of this campaign is simple – Open your eyes to abuse.

It could be happening in your community, so if you suspect it, report it.

What is Modern Slavery?

Modern slavery is the illegal exploitation of people for personal or commercial gain. 
Victims of modern slavery can be any age, gender, nationality or ethnicity. They are tricked or threatened into work and may feel unable to leave through fear or intimidation. 

Spot the signs

Modern slavery could be happening in your community so it’s important you know the signs that could indicate someone is a victim of this crime.

•    How do they look? Scruffy, dirty, malnourished, injured?
•    How are they acting? Anxious, afraid, reluctant to talk?
•    What’s their work situation like? Long hours, unsuitable clothing, wrong equipment?
•    How’s their accommodation? Overcrowded, poorly maintained, curtains always closed?
•    What are their movements like? Never leave the house alone, limited contact with
     friends and family, no access to money or identification?

Report it

We all have a role to play in keeping people safe from harm. If you think someone may be a victim of modern slavery tell someone. You will always be taken seriously.

You can contact the Modern Slavery Helpline confidentially on 08000 121 700 or the police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. 

For more information about the campaign please visit our website.

*Figures are a weekly average of recorded crime between 01/10/16 – 31/03/17