Harnessing Crowdsourced Intelligence.
Mapping Modern Slavery in the UK's Hand Car Wash Industry.
The Clewer Initiative
UK government agencies
National Crime Agency
Gangmasters & Labour Abuse Authority
National Police Chief’s Council
Local Government Authority
Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner
CLIENT
A partnership of organisations at the forefront of combating modern slavery in the UK, focusing on the identification, prevention, and disruption of human trafficking and exploitation, particularly in high-risk industries like hand car washes.
BRIEF
It is widely acknowledged that modern slavery is prevalent in the hand car wash industry across the UK, however a significant gap in reliable data, made it difficult to gauge the scale of the problem or identify victims effectively. Without accurate intelligence, law enforcement struggle to intervene, meaning exploitation continues to persist. The challenge was to develop a solution that would raise public awareness of modern slavery indicators and enable the collection of actionable intelligence to support investigations.
Kore was tasked with designing a solution that would bridge the gap between public awareness and effective law enforcement action. We conducted an in-depth analysis of the problem, focusing on user behavior, data requirements, and the need for a tool that could gather reliable intelligence without overwhelming the reporting systems.
Crowdsourced Intelligence Gathering
We conceptualised and developed the Safe Car Wash app, an innovative platform that allowed the general public to report potential modern slavery cases in a user-friendly and effective manner. The app was designed with a clear focus on the interplay between content, user journeys, and data. We worked closely with UK government agencies to translate the complex indicators of modern slavery into a simple, algorithm-driven questionnaire that could be easily used by the public.
Data-Driven Design
The app’s design was informed by the need to balance sensitivity with accuracy. Users were guided through a series of questions that subtly assessed the likelihood of modern slavery being present at a car wash. This process was underpinned by an algorithm that weighted responses based on established slavery indicators, ensuring that the intelligence gathered was both meaningful and actionable.
By carefully calibrating the algorithm, we minimised the risk of inundating the Modern Slavery Helpline with false reports while maximising the potential to identify genuine cases of exploitation. This approach ensured that each report submitted via the app had a strong evidentiary basis, helping law enforcement agencies prioritise and act on the most urgent leads.
IMPACT
The Safe Car Wash app became the first tool to map the UK hand car wash industry through crowdsourced data, providing unprecedented insights into the prevalence of modern slavery.
In the first 30 days post-launch, the app contributed to identifying 69 potential victims of modern slavery, with 900 reports generated in the first ten months, marking a significant step forward in the fight against human trafficking.
The app led to a 60% increase in calls to the Modern Slavery Helpline, with the quality of the intelligence gathered being markedly higher, thanks to the carefully designed user journey and data collection process.
Kore’s work exemplified the power of integrating content, user interaction, and data, creating a scalable and effective solution that has had a lasting impact on both public awareness and law enforcement capabilities.
This project highlighted Kore’s ability to work with multiple stakeholders, turning complex human rights concerns into a streamlined, user-friendly application that facilitated real-world impact.
First ➊
national mapping of the UK hand car wash industry
60% ⏶
increase in calls to the Modern Slavery Helpline
900 ✓
reports of potential modern slavery abuses in first ten months
Gallery
