Human traffickers are continuing to brand their victims with tattoos “as a control mechanism” that “identifies them as belonging to them”, a charity has warned.

Stephen Hay, director of police and justice at the Medaille Trust, made the remarks as the charity teamed up with tattoo artists for a new “anti-branding” campaign to empower victims.

Tattooists Against Traffickers will help trafficking survivors to redesign the tattoos they were branded with.

The campaign has been announced on the United Nations’ “World Day Against Trafficking In Persons”, which focuses on the role human trafficking survivors play in establishing effective measures to prevent the crime

There are estimated to be 136,000 victims of modern slavery living in the UK, according to data from the Global Slavery Index and the UK’s National Crime Agency.

Mr Hay said: “(Tattooing) is a control mechanism that is put in place by perpetrators of modern slavery, to control their victims and identify them as belonging to them.

“These unwanted tattoos serve as a prominent reminders of the trauma victims have faced, which is why the campaign is helping clients to redesign their tattoos and reclaim their bodies.”

One survivor, who was sold by her mother as a slave, had the word “mum” visibly tattooed on her hand.

Working with artist Talen Stalley from Terry’s Tattoos in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, she was able to re-create this into a beautiful image of a butterfly.

“You don’t understand what this means to me, it is freedom,” she told the charity.

Meanwhile, a survivor who was living in safe houses had her perpetrator’s name in thick, black letters down her arm. For years, she wore long sleeves and hid her arm in photos so as to avoid any questions about the meaning behind it.

In late July, tattooist Natalie Duffield from Lost Gardens changed the name into a striking image of a feather.

“Usually the cover-ups I do are because people are tired or bored with their tattoos, whereas this was so different,” Natalie said. “It’s not just fixing a tattoo. We’re helping fix that person.”

The Medaille Trust are also educating the tattoo artists about recognising signs of trafficking.

Some of these red flags include signs of physical injuries in unusual places; avoidance of eye contact, and tattoo requests for redesigns on the back of the neck and inside of the forearm, which are often male names or strange symbols.

The guidelines also suggest victims will most likely be accompanied by an older, controlling man, whom they refer to as “boyfriend”, “uncle” or “daddy” – all slang terms for pimp.

Labour MP Alex Norris, who is backing the campaign, believes this is a powerful project to give trafficking victims “their independence and dignity”.

He added that today’s awareness day was a reminder to the UK government that we “must do better to protect people in this country from modern slavery”.

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