There are an estimated 136,000 people living on conditions of modern slavery in the United Kingdom (Global Slavery Index 2018). According to the 2017 annual figures provided by the National Crime Agency, 5, 145 potential victims of modern slavery were referred through the National Referral Mechanism in 2017, of whom 2,454 were female, 2688 were male and 3 were transgender, with 41% of all referrals being children at the time of exploitation. People are subjected to slavery in the UK in the form of domestic servitude, labour exploitation, organ harvesting and sexual exploitation, with the largest number of potential victims originating from Albania, China, Vietnam and Nigeria. This data however does not consider the unknown numbers of victims that are not reported.
Tamzin was a teenager when she met a man and soon fell in love with him. However, after a couple of years this man became obsessive, controlling everything Tamzin did, forcing her to have sex and store drugs for him. Here Tamzin describes her story in her own words.
Dear Devil, Insecurity was the problem…
Girl open your eyes overlook hes handsome features all the money he makes overlook the streets, the drugs, the scandalous lifestyle.
Overcome the charming behaviour, the soft lips, the sweet scent lingering on his neck, overlook the baggy jeans, the fresh trainers overcome the swag…
In the beginning I loved the life I led I wish I overlooked all the superficial things I by passed his huge arms da way he looked at me…
T why didnt you listen to your head?
And not your heart why didnt you be smart?
You ignored all the warnings…
I fort I loved him I just wasnt ready…
Yes you was my everything I dedicated my all to you, at the beginning you were my morning noon and night.
Why did you change?
Why did you become obsessive?
Why did you hurt me and treat me like a trophy something that belonged to you “your property” was i your girl or your belonging an item to misuse and mistreat
I was a good girl I would hold drugs I did the dirt I was well respected hood royalty always kept fresh never embarased you, kept my hair neat spoke when spoken to some would say I was perfect “wifey material” obviously not enough.
I rided for you then you turt crazy started moving crazy insecure, demading so angry…
Tryna controle my whole life how I dressed spoke walked.
The first two years was amazing we had so many good times the person controlling my mind wasnt you it wasnt my baby that was the devil.
The devil never took no 4 an answer.
He controlled my mind got so deep I was blind to the abuse.
I was a strong girl you made me weak broke me down took away my innocene the first time you took me thats when I was lost forever I scrub my skin till it bleed yet I still felt so dirty.
What you did made me sick my dream life became a nightmare in a matter of months my heaven became hell.
My glorious days were stolen I was falsed to indulge in things not evan 50 year olds could cope with.
I tried to stay strong but I was so damn weak the boiling showers didnt help the pain is still there, it always will.
You made me feel worthless ugly like damaged goods i was strong on the outside and oh so very weak on the inside…
What dont kill you only makes you stronger you may have taken somethink I can never get back but I can honestly say Im so strong today not you or anyone else will ever get into my mind again, my wounds will never fully heal but Im stronger than ever I can talk about my experiences with my head held high because I am far from damaged good I am a fighter a young girl with experience and a wonderfull life ahead of me you will never ruin another life again.
Life is beautiful xxx.