Recommendations & Conclusions
15 items
1
Conclusion
First Report - Human trafficking
Rejected
We are deeply concerned that the Government is prioritising irregular migration issues at the expense of tackling human trafficking. The Government’s de- prioritisation of human trafficking is not reflective of the scale of the threat it poses or the gravity of the crimes involved. As was expressed by several stakeholders, …
Government response. The government rejects the committee's premise of de-prioritising human trafficking, stating it is right to tackle both modern slavery and migration together. They highlight their commitment to identifying and supporting victims, noting that over 10,000 people received support through the …
Home Office
2
Conclusion
First Report - Human trafficking
Rejected
The Home Office must not conflate immigration with human trafficking and modern slavery at the expense of protection of victims of human trafficking.
Government response. The government rejects the recommendation, stating it is right for the Home Office to tackle modern slavery and migration together due to their close links and that Ministers work to balance border security with victim support.
Home Office
4
Conclusion
First Report - Human trafficking
Rejected
The Home Office and respective public authorities should treat human trafficking as primarily a protection issue and not an irregular migration concern. Future legislation must take account of the legitimate protection and support needs of all victims including UK nationals.
Government response. The government rejects the recommendation, stating it is right to tackle modern slavery and migration together and that Ministers work to balance secure borders with providing victims appropriate support.
Home Office
6
Recommendation
First Report - Human trafficking
Rejected
In accordance with the recommendation made by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in its 2023 UK country visit report, we urge the Government to withdraw the issue of modern slavery and human trafficking from the Minister for Immigration and reinstate the full remit of human trafficking …
Government response. The government rejects the recommendation to separate ministerial responsibilities, stating it is right for the Home Office to tackle modern slavery and migration together and that Ministers balance border security with victim support.
Home Office
13
Conclusion
First Report - Human trafficking
Rejected
Section 53A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 should be strengthened and penalties upon conviction increased to ensure comparability with other sexual and trafficking offences and to increase the deterrent value.
Government response. The government implicitly rejects strengthening Section 53A or increasing penalties, explaining that police prioritise investigating more serious modern slavery crimes due to their higher penalties.
Home Office
22
Recommendation
First Report - Human trafficking
Rejected
The Government should allocate funding for an increase in the number of Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority inspectors, so that more proactive monitoring and enforcement of labour laws can be implemented by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority.
Government response. The government rejects the recommendation, stating it would not be appropriate for them to accept it because the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner's role is independent.
Home Office
23
Conclusion
First Report - Human trafficking
Rejected
Criminal exploitation is the most reported form of human trafficking and modern slavery, but there is insufficient training for law enforcement personnel in victim recognition and inadequate support for victims of criminal exploitation.
Government response. The government states it is not appropriate to accept this item because the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner's role is independent of Government.
Home Office
24
Recommendation
First Report - Human trafficking
Rejected
The Home Office should review its Modern Slavery statutory guidance on criminal exploitation every six months to be inclusive of emerging intelligence for this form of trafficking. (Paragraph 82) 74 Human trafficking
Government response. The government explicitly rejects the recommendation to review Modern Slavery statutory guidance every six months, stating that existing guidance and legislation already adequately address child criminal exploitation.
Home Office
39
Recommendation
First Report - Human trafficking
Rejected
The Government should direct that every police force is provided with a dedicated modern slavery and human trafficking specialist team.
Government response. The government states that it keeps legislation under review but has not seen unequivocal evidence that any particular approach would improve tackling harm and exploitation related to prostitution and sex work, effectively declining to commit to directing specialist modern slavery …
Home Office
73
Recommendation
First Report - Human trafficking
Rejected
We recommend an independent review of the implementation of modern slavery provisions (Part 5) in the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, conducted by a suitably qualified and independent professional, to start in January 2024.
Government response. The government rejects the recommendation for an independent review of the modern slavery provisions in the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, stating that the Home Office is conducting its own internal monitoring and evaluation of the relevant Acts.
Home Office
74
Recommendation
First Report - Human trafficking
Rejected
The Government should pause any requirement to provide third party evidence at the Reasonable Grounds stage until such an independent review has been concluded and has determined that the new requirements are not unduly burdensome.
Government response. The government rejected pausing the requirement for third-party evidence, stating they are internally monitoring and evaluating the new guidance, which they believe is having its intended effect of making decisions more robust.
Home Office
85
Recommendation
First Report - Human trafficking
Rejected
The Government should deliver on its commitment of 12 months’ support for all victims with a positive Conclusive Grounds decision by the end of 2024. (Paragraph 248) Human trafficking 81
Government response. The government rejected delivering a blanket 12 months of support for all victims with a positive Conclusive Grounds decision, stating their existing needs-based approach through the Recovery Needs Assessment ensures appropriate support length and that a fixed period risks creating …
Home Office
92
Conclusion
First Report - Human trafficking
Rejected
The Home Office must change the criteria for eligibility to allow local authority pilot locations to make National Referral Mechanism decisions for all children in their care, including those who are age-disputed; and not exclude those who are within 100 days of their 18th birthday.
Government response. The government rejected changing the pilot's eligibility criteria to include age-disputed children or those within 100 days of their 18th birthday, stating that expanding the scope would increase the risk of cases not being completed before the individual becomes an …
Home Office
99
Conclusion
First Report - Human trafficking
Rejected
Local authority safeguarding guidance needs include the external threats that traffickers pose to children who may be in local authority care even after they have been removed from immediate harm.
Government response. The government rejected the recommendation, stating that existing statutory guidance and recently published guidance already provide sufficient information and support for frontline professionals on child criminal exploitation.
Home Office
102
Conclusion
First Report - Human trafficking
Rejected
Every child who goes missing from home or care should be considered as a potential victim of trafficking, even if they are subsequently found safe.
Government response. The government rejected the recommendation for a blanket National Referral Mechanism (NRM) referral for every missing child, arguing it would remove case-specific considerations, create undue pressure, and potentially lead to damaging negative outcomes.
Home Office