Charlie Condou

A CORONATION Street star has joined forces with Stephen Fry and Mr Motivator and other celebrities to campaign against male modern slavery.

The actor and LGBT activist Charlie Condou said that although the term “modern slavery” is widely used, many of us don’t really know what it means, or that it’s happening in the UK.

He added: “136,000 people are victims of modern slavery in the UK, and three-quarters of these people are men, and these people are under our noses – they’re working in the care systems, and even hospitality.”

Mr Coundou, who has lived in Barnsbury for 25 years, said: “They’ve come to the UK under false pretences and now they’re stuck. People are promised a job here that pays lots of money, let’s say £500 per week.

“They come, they’re put up in a flat, someone takes a passport and says they’re keeping hold of  it for security reasons. Then they start working, and it’s great. But at the end of the week they’re only given £30.

“They’re told the rest has been kept because of ‘fees’ or ‘accom­moda­tion’, and suddenly, this person realises they’re working for way below the minimum wage.

“You have to remember that people in this situation often don’t speak English. They don’t have any friends or family here – they’re completely stuck.”

Mr Condou says that this reality completely undercuts the arguments of those who paint immigrants as leaching off the system.

“There is no question that there are a lot of people that come to this country and work in the care sector, or whatever they work in, who are being paid and work under legal and moral conditions,” he said.

“But there are so many people in this underbelly who are brought here and work under illegal conditions – and they’re propping up services that we rely on.”

Mr Condou says he hopes this campaign will be the first step in the fight against modern slavery – raising awareness with the goal of more people being able to spot the warning sides.

“We hear about women being sex trafficked, and we know how horrendous that is, and how exploitative.

“But we don’t hear so much about men, and it’s difficult for men to talk about when they’ve been emasculated. Their pride, sense of strength, power to support their families – that’s all taken from them.

“Awareness is first and then maybe people start to become aware of it in their communities.

“Maybe you notice there are 20 people living in a small house nearby, maybe you wonder why, you speak to these people, open up your mind and your world to these people and you find that you may be able to help them in some way.”