Recommendation 35

HM Government · verbatim extract Deferred

43. The Government agrees that modern slavery remains a national threat and a priority. We want to see greater consistency across police forces in how they tackle modern slavery. This is why the Strategic Policing Requirement makes clear that all police forces must have the capability and capacity to tackle serious and organised crime, including modern slavery and human trafficking. This commitment is supported by the £17.8 million of funding since 2016 to the Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Unit within the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) to drive improvements across policing and increase awareness of the crime. 44. Since 2016, the National Police Chiefs’ Council has also published several documents, including the Modern Slavery Policing Compendium (2020) and the Modern Slavery Policing Strategy, which provide a clear framework and direction for police forces. The College of Policing has also supported police forces through guidance, including the Modern Slavery Authorised Professional Practice which provides practical advice for officers and staff on modern slavery and human trafficking. 58. The Government fully agrees with the Committee’s recommendation to ensure criminal justice practitioners are adequately trained to identify and support victims. The College of Policing’s Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Authorised Professional Practice (APP) provides practical advice for officers and staff on modern slavery and human trafficking investigations and prosecution cases, including on how to effectively identify and support victims. The College has also created a Modern Slavery portfolio of learning products. The Home Office has committed to fund further Modern Slavery training for key frontline law enforcement partners, including the police. 59. The National Crime Agency (NCA) also provides specific training on human trafficking, with partners including the Immigration Enforcement, Border Force, the GLAA and police forces. The NCA has invested significantly in the last year to uplift and expand their training, including for partner agencies, on modern slavery which includes identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery. 60. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is committed to improving the prosecution of modern slavery cases. The CPS has specialist prosecutors across England and Wales who are supported by bespoke guidance and training on modern slavery. In October 2023, the CPS published updated guidance for all prosecutors on modern slavery offences. 61. The Government recognises the importance of early engagement between police and the CPS. The NPCC and CPS are committed to working together to ensure high quality investigations and prosecutions, including for modern slavery cases. This includes through the ‘Modern Slavery – Maximising Evidential Opportunities’ guidance. Additionally, the Criminal Justice Joint Inspection of the criminal justice response to modern slavery in England and Wales highlighted the need for early engagement between the police and CPS.