Slavery on the doorstep

You might think "slavery" is a strong word to use but that was the word used in the newspaper for this quite shocking story.

In the city where I live, it seems the homeless are being offered "paid work" but their payment is just alcohol.    When they are no longer any use to the people tricking them, they dump them back on the streets.

That was how it was in the beginning but now as the homeless "wise up", they are turning down the offer of "paid work".  The result is that they are kidnapped and forced to work or they are beaten up.  One man was "sold" to another man for £10,000 and was made to sleep with chickens. 

It is heartbreaking enough that the homeless suffer as they do but for these vulnerable people to be kicked and used when they are down, is just disgraceful. 

The police are doing everything they can but a lot of the targeted homeless are scared to even say anything.

What are your thoughts on this harrowing story?

blue

That's horrible blue. Selling human beings? It's just unbelievable but very real that this exists today. When will it end? Slavery is a strong word but it's exactly what's going on here. Oh I just feel for those poor people being taken advantage of. Makes you wish you could save the world.

It is downright DEPLORABLE! To be a victim of slavery in this day in age infuriates me. Where is the humanity in all this? These are real people they are treating like wild animals. Do they think they deserve this because they are poor or homeless?

Is our worth measured by wealth, status, color or creed? I just don't know how these people sleep at night. I see someone homeless and i envision wanting to hug them and feel the deepest empathy.

Lips

Me too Lips, even driving past the ones on the street corner (where I happen to know they have a place to sleep because I have seen their 'shift changes' happen) it gets to me every time.  I don't mean to say it's a scam what I've seen, just that I know they sleep in a local shelter and take turns throughout the day panhandling. 

I would think someone would step in and put a stop to this... or at least charge the ones we know about. 

what can i say, *but* totally *shocking* wow, are the police trying hard enough though i really hope they are, this should not be happening this day and age, and the reasons the homeless is on the streets is worse enough to then be sold is just absolutely disgusting, i really hope they put a stop to this as soon as posible.

Blue? has there been any news on the tv about it and is it a main headline or just a newspaper article?, because i am shocked if this isnt a main headline!!

blueday:

It never fails to surprise and disgust me our species' capacity for cruelty and inhumanity.

These facts were copied from a United Nation webpage on modern day slavery and human trafficking (URL below)

Human slavery is NOT an institution of the past:


    It is estimated that more than 250,000 children are currently being exploited as child soldiers in as many as 30 areas of conflict around the world. Many of the kidnapped girls who are made into child soldiers are also forced into sexual slavery.

    The International Organization for Migration estimates that annually 700,000 women, girls, men and boys are being traficked across borders away from their homes and families and into slavery.

    An estimated 5.7 million children are victims of forced and bonded labour, also known as debt bondage, and 1.2 million children are victims of child trafficking.

    Linked to trafficking is the commercial sexual exploitation of children of whom 1 million, mainly girls, are forced into prostitution every year. These girls are sold for sex or used in child pornography in both the developed and the developing world.



http://www.un.org/events/slaveryremembrance/factsheet.shtml

OMG.. this is horrible, we had a story as well.. the homeless were offered shelter for their work, and in return given booze (alot) with no money and little food..... but in this story the owners were signing them up for life insurance, poisoning them with alcohol or some kind of accidental death, and claiming the insurance money, they'd find homeless elders with no family and do this..

outrageous.. it's making me sick to my stomache these stories that are coming to light are barbaric tragedies.. heartless, selfish people taking advantage of someones hardship or handicap is just..  uuugghh

I have watched a report about such a situation on TV and what I find shocking is that most of those poor guys are still so scared to talk! It's unbelievable that such a thing was allowed to happen in one of the most advanced countries of the world, that's quite sad in my view.

After a quick search, I believe I found the story and "Shocking" would be a minor term...One had been held there 15 years....I cannot imagine the brainwashing that took place with them either as one wanted to come back and work!

I am sure there's a special hell for those scum....

honestly, the depravity of the human race is not a surprise to me. I am no longer shocked by the cruelty we possess

Thank you all for your amazing comments.

Some people will stoop to any level to use or profit from another human being.  It truly is a disgrace to mankind.

blue

wow with the economy being as awful as it is right now laws should really be in place to protect people from being taken advantage of