Trafficking victims ‘fear being criminalised’ if they seek help

Charity workers hope Sir Mo Farah's decision to reveal he was trafficked would encourage more victims to come forward

After it took Sir Mo Farah decades to summon the courage to speak about his childhood experiences, trafficking experts warned that the fear of being criminalised prevents many other child victims from coming forward to seek help.

Charity workers commended the Olympic champion's decision to reveal he was trafficked to the UK using another child's name, then exploited and forced into domestic servitude, expressing hope that high-profile revelations would highlight the widespread nature of such abuse and encourage more victims to speak out.