Recommendation 52

HM Government · verbatim extract Deferred

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.