Trafficking cases like those involving long-distance runner Sir Mo Farah have happened in Oxford, according to a city-based charity.

The Olympic champion recently revealed that he was illegally trafficked into Britain under the name of another child as a nine-year-old.

A report by the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire mental health and domestic abuse charity Elmore Community Services, published in February, has focused on the ‘true extent’ of modern slavery in Oxford.

Read again: See documentary on the real Sir Mo Farah

The report, entitled Researching the extent and nature of modern slavery in Oxford, uses a case-based methodology that suggests that there may have been between 319 and 442 ‘possible’ or ‘very likely’ cases of modern slavery in Oxford City from April 2016 to January 2020.

This is much higher than the 123 cases recorded by Thames Valley Police, and a new Anti-Slavery Coordinator has been appointed by the city council.

Read more: Elmore charity estimates saving to public purse

Oxford Mail:

Tom Hayes, chief executive of Elmore Community Services, and the co-chair of the Oxfordshire Anti-Slavery Network, said: “It’s heart wrenching that Sir Mo was taken from his family at such a young age and trafficked to the UK to be exploited.

"Slavery isn’t something that happens in some faraway country, it’s happening right here.

"As ground-breaking new research by Elmore Community Services shows, slavery may be happening in far greater numbers than we thought.”

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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF