
‘The Spoon Trick’: Person Shares A Tip That Can Help Victims Escape Their Abusers Discreetly Interview
Every year, thousands of people fall into the hands of human traffickers, both in their own countries and abroad. One of the motives for committing such a horrendous crime is forcing a victim into marriage. In 2016, there were an estimated 15.4 million people in forced marriages, 88% of whom were women and girls. Although it’s hard to calculate the exact number since so many cases are underreported, the problem may be even bigger.
But the UK-based charity “Karma Nirvana,” which supports victims of abuse and forced marriage, has come up with a way to alert the authorities that you’re in danger. It’s called the “metal spoon technique,” and it refers to hiding a metal spoon in your underwear to trigger airport metal detectors. As a result, the victim is taken away for a search, enabling them to raise the alarm in a safe and private manner.
More info: KarmaNirvana.org.uk | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Hiding a metal spoon in underwear will trigger airport detectors and will show the authorities that the victim is in danger
Image credits: Andrew Pilloud (not the actual photo)
Bored Panda reached out to Anup Magnota, the operations manager at Karma Nirvana, a charity in Leeds, UK that came up with the metal spoon technique. Anup explained that the idea came from one of their call handlers 9 years ago, whereby a victim was worried about being taken abroad for marriage.
“The call handler reacted instinctively and stated to put a spoon in her underwear and whilst going through security at the airport, she will have the opportunity of speaking to someone privately and disclose that she does not want to leave the country because of a forced marriage.”
Anup warned that the spoon method is a last-resort measure to prevent a victim leaving the country, “as we will aim to work with partners to ensure a victim is removed from an abusive situation before.”
The metal spoon technique came to the spotlight on social media after one person shared it in a Twitter thread
Lockdown has been a difficult period for many of Karma Nirvana’s victims. Anup explained that “they experience constant surveillance by their perpetrators, who often are parents or their partner. We receive contacts via email, as it’s a safer way of seeking help.”
Luckily, the challenging circumstances have not stopped many victims from calling the helpline for support. “Victims have managed to call for help when they went for a walk or call when the perpetrator was out of the home.”
The UK government has also taken measures into their hands by developing ways to raise the alarm about abuse. “Victims can dial 55 when speaking to the police to alert they are a victim of domestic abuse. This will trigger a response to the address to get the victim away safely.”
Other people joined the thread
Karma Nirvana’s helpline has been running since 2008 and the organisation was set up in 1993. Anup said that even if it’s hard to give an accurate number for the life span of the organisation, they do know since the inception of the helpline, they have had over 100k contacts to the helpline.
“Over lockdown, since 23 March, we have supported 1371 people in the UK that are suffering honour-based abuse, at risk of forced marriage and domestic abuse,” Anup explained.
The idea came from this UK charity that supports victims of abuse and forced marriage
Image credits: karmanirvana
Anup also said that their charity would never make a decision for the victim, but will provide them options and advocate on their behalf, especially as some lack confidence or have language barriers.
“A case is never closed on the helpline and our service will remain open regardless where the victim is in the journey. Sometimes a victim will want to just speak to someone as they feel very low and require emotional support, which has increased significantly over the lockdown.”
Most importantly, Karma Nirvana is working to ensure the victim is listened to and believed, since they’re often the first agency that validates what victims are going through.
And this is what people had to comment
Whether you are at risk or are concerned for someone in the United Kingdom that is, contact the British charity Karma Nirvana’s helpline for confidential support to both victims and professionals at 0800 5999 247.
So sad that this is even necessary...
Yes. In a perfect world it wouldn't. We don't live in a perfect world but we can help make it better . So if you see something suspicious and live in the u.s. call this number 1 (888) 373-7888 its the u.s. national human trafficking number
Indeed it is, but the fact that the spoon trick is real makes me very happy.
yeah, then people have a chance to be saved!!!
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jamie1707 like
I really support this but we might want to keep it from getting to publicly known because then abusers might check for it. But anyway im so so glad that this has saved people and can help save people
RIght. Except how do you get the info to potential victims? It's impossible to get info like this out there without letting both victims and perpetrators know.
True !!!! like how they make crime shows about how to find a criminal when a criminal can see the tv and be careful when commiting the crime... you right
And that is exactly the reason why those shows aren’t very realistic. They never show how real investigations work, what techniques they have, but they do show things that don’t work at all, so amateurs get dettered from committing crimes. It’s very clever, actually.
Thanks :) i always thought that that made no sense
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Bullshit. This is not a thing. You do realize abusers will find a way no matter what is on tv. They are way ahead of everyone else.
Great idea! But would the victims always have the time to find a spoon somewhere and tuck it in their underwear?
Not always, but it doesn't have to work with all people all the time to be effective. A spoon seems like a common enough item that an abuser wouldn't think twice about leaving around his victim or notice if one is missing.
My mind might be a little twisted, but I imagine abuser would be giving me rather plastic spoon instead of metal one, which could be used as a weapon.
Doesn't have to be a spoon, specifically. Just ANY medium sized piece of metal. Something you will have to be pulled aside for to be searched.
Nail clippers/scissors would do it too I guess. I assume a hairclip isn't big enough, but maybe if you put a handful down your pants the x-ray person would wonder what the heck was going on and take you aside. Of course, if the child is underage, I'm guessing there's a good chance the adult has a right to stay with them for screening. I certainly wouldn't let me daughter go anywhere alone to be examined.
I think the point is that some victims aren’t what we would think of when we think of captives. They may be regular-seeming girls who grow up in the US or UK but are then taken by their parents to another country for forced marriage or one of the other items on this list. They would have unfettered access to spoons.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Shelp what
yamatokatsuha09000 what
So sad that this is even necessary...
Yes. In a perfect world it wouldn't. We don't live in a perfect world but we can help make it better . So if you see something suspicious and live in the u.s. call this number 1 (888) 373-7888 its the u.s. national human trafficking number
Indeed it is, but the fact that the spoon trick is real makes me very happy.
yeah, then people have a chance to be saved!!!
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
jamie1707 like
I really support this but we might want to keep it from getting to publicly known because then abusers might check for it. But anyway im so so glad that this has saved people and can help save people
RIght. Except how do you get the info to potential victims? It's impossible to get info like this out there without letting both victims and perpetrators know.
True !!!! like how they make crime shows about how to find a criminal when a criminal can see the tv and be careful when commiting the crime... you right
And that is exactly the reason why those shows aren’t very realistic. They never show how real investigations work, what techniques they have, but they do show things that don’t work at all, so amateurs get dettered from committing crimes. It’s very clever, actually.
Thanks :) i always thought that that made no sense
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Bullshit. This is not a thing. You do realize abusers will find a way no matter what is on tv. They are way ahead of everyone else.
Great idea! But would the victims always have the time to find a spoon somewhere and tuck it in their underwear?
Not always, but it doesn't have to work with all people all the time to be effective. A spoon seems like a common enough item that an abuser wouldn't think twice about leaving around his victim or notice if one is missing.
My mind might be a little twisted, but I imagine abuser would be giving me rather plastic spoon instead of metal one, which could be used as a weapon.
Doesn't have to be a spoon, specifically. Just ANY medium sized piece of metal. Something you will have to be pulled aside for to be searched.
Nail clippers/scissors would do it too I guess. I assume a hairclip isn't big enough, but maybe if you put a handful down your pants the x-ray person would wonder what the heck was going on and take you aside. Of course, if the child is underage, I'm guessing there's a good chance the adult has a right to stay with them for screening. I certainly wouldn't let me daughter go anywhere alone to be examined.
I think the point is that some victims aren’t what we would think of when we think of captives. They may be regular-seeming girls who grow up in the US or UK but are then taken by their parents to another country for forced marriage or one of the other items on this list. They would have unfettered access to spoons.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Shelp what
yamatokatsuha09000 what