The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is the UK’s official system for identifying individuals who may be victims of modern slavery and connecting them with appropriate support services. In the past year alone, first responders referred over 20,000 people to the Home Office, overwhelming the system and leaving many vulnerable. A recent article by The Big Issue highlights the emotional burden of two first responders who remain dedicated amid setbacks.

“He thought these people were his friends.”

Josefiina Kalliokoski volunteers with the Salvation Army as a first responder for victims of modern slavery and human trafficking. One case that remains with her involved a young boy coerced into drug trafficking at age 8. She recalled,

“He thought these people were his friends. They cared for him. Then they started pinning things on him. He was completely exploited and facing quite serious charges. He was devastated and struggling to make sense of the fact that the people he thought he could trust turned out to be violent, scary and abusive.”

For Josefiina, asking survivors to recount traumatic experiences is one of the most difficult aspects of her role. Despite her compassionate approach, the invasive nature of the questions can be deeply distressing for survivors.

But despite feeling disheartened about the inhumane ways people treat each other, Josefiina expressed gratitude to those involved in supporting and rescuing survivors.

“I did a case a couple weeks ago, and the person said this was the first time that they had let it all out. They had a massive sense of relief that someone believed them. It brings me comfort that, when people get a positive decision from the Home Office, they’ll get further support.”

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