Vulnerable people are being exploited as modern day slaves in towns and neighbourhoods across Essex, the police have said.

Between April 2015 and March 2016, Essex Police says it investigated 41 cases of human trafficking and modern slavery, including people being forced to work against their will or being controlled by so-called employers using mental or physical abuse or the threat of abuse.

Sexual exploitation is also a part of modern slavery, which the police force said is about “power, dominance and control” over vulnerable people.

Victims often do not have control of their money and owe large amounts to the abuser for housing, travel and food, so feel they have no means of escaping the exploitation.

Essex Police anti-slavery co-ordinator Cristina Gavrilovic said: “People think this sort of thing doesn’t happen in their neighbourhood or their town.

“It does happen and we are asking people to be aware, spot the signs and be a voice to victims who are extremely vulnerable and need our help.

“Traffickers have no boundaries or borders and they often target the most vulnerable, including children, those suffering from mental health [issues] or addictions and homeless people.

“Victims of trafficking and slavery often speak little or no English, have no access to a phone or their ID documents and have very little concept of their current location, making them extremely vulnerable.”

This week, Essex Police is running operations against modern slavery and trafficking.

It is also using social media to highlight the issue – using the hashtag #BeAVoice – and to encourage people to notice and report the crimes.

Essex police and crime commissioner Roger Hirst said: “There is no place for slavery and the exploitation of our fellow human beings in the modern world.

“I hope that, with the help of this campaign, all of us can become more aware of how to spot the signs of slavery, how to help those who are being controlled, and how to bring the abusers to justice.”