Isle of Man GSC Trained Staff on Recognizing Signs of Human Trafficking

The Isle of Man’s Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) provided its staff with training on recognizing and preventing modern slavery amid continued human trafficking concerns. The session featured the real stories of human trafficking survivors and sought to raise awareness of the issue.

Human Trafficking Is a Growing Concern

In its official release, the GSC noted that this training came in response to recent UNODC reports, which highlighted new human trafficking threats in the gaming sector. It also said that the training, which was dubbed Modern Slavery and Labour Exploitation on the Isle of Man, featured Maria Bridson.

As an award-winning senior Manx advocate at BridsonHalsall Advocates, Bridson boasts extensive knowledge of the Isle of Man’s immigration legislation and is a prominent speaker on issues related to human trafficking.

During the training, Bridson shared “harrowing true stories” of modern slavery survivors and provided insights into the evolution of the trafficking of humans.

The GSC added that improved transparency and collaboration between both domestic and international organizations could be a major contributor to preventing human trafficking.

The Isle of Man, which has had its fair share of trouble with illicit gambling-related activities, continues its efforts to combat the threats of financial crime and human trafficking. To that end, the GSC reiterated its commitment to collaborating with domestic and international authorities to combat organized crime.

Looking Out for the Red Flags

Among other things, the Modern Slavery and Labour Exploitation on the Isle of Man training educated GSC staffers on recognizing the signs of human trafficking. It emphasized that recent reports suggest that such crime is becoming increasingly widespread in Europe, including on the Isle of Man.

The training listed several markers of modern slavery that regulatory bodies should look out for. These include the following:

• Sudden changes in staff numbers or revenue
• Complex business structures
• Reluctance to provide Due Diligence / Source of Wealth information
• Staff have poor English, work long hours or exhibit signs of distress
• Many staff members are on visas
• Staff sharing common addresses

More information is available on the GSC’s official website.  

GSC Takes the Threat Very Seriously

In the meantime, the GSC encouraged people to educate themselves on the red flags they should look out for and spread awareness of the issue. In case of emergencies, people should immediately call the police.

The GSC concluded that it takes the human trafficking risks very seriously.

The GSC takes the threat of transnational organised crime very seriously and is committed to upholding the sector’s integrity and protecting those who may be vulnerable to exploitation. Maintaining a comprehensive understanding of risks and threats is fundamental to these efforts.

GSC statement

In other news, the Isle of Man just published the National Risk Appetite Statement (NRAS), a new publication that put the island’s commitment to preventing online gambling-related crime in the spotlight.