Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
First Report - Human trafficking
Home Affairs Committee
HC 124
Published 8 December 2023
Recommendations
9
Accepted
Para 42
Urgently resume publication of annual human trafficking reports, including victim support details.
Recommendation
The Home Office should urgently resume publication of its annual reports on human trafficking. It should publish a Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery annual report by March 2024 to include key outputs and Home Office policies that are in development …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation and commits to resuming publication of an Annual Report on Modern Slavery this year to outline its strategic approach and monitor ongoing work.
Home Office
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51
Accepted
Para 157
Create and supply additional training for criminal justice practitioners on human trafficking prosecution.
Recommendation
To increase the number of prosecutions, the Government must create and supply additional training for criminal justice practitioners on identifying victims and prosecuting human traffickers.
Government Response Summary
The government states that proficiency in 'evidence-led' investigations is already fully covered and tested in the modern slavery investigator training course on the College of Policing curriculum.
Home Office
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55
Accepted
Para 168
Make early assessments of s45 cases in trafficking-connected areas to identify indicators
Recommendation
Law enforcement should make early assessments of s45 cases in areas that are known to be connected to human trafficking (for example, cannabis cultivation) to identify any indicators of trafficking and then fully investigate where an offence is apparent or …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that existing Modern Slavery Statutory Guidance already provides guidance on indicators of modern slavery, including indicators relevant to victims of trafficking who are compelled to commit offences, and that they continue to work with law enforcement partners.
Home Office
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56
Accepted
Para 169
Ensure broad application of non-punishment for compelled offences, without burden of proof hindering
Recommendation
In line with the recommendations on s45 of the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Being’s third UK report, the Government should: a) ensure that the non-punishment provision can be applied to all offences …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that existing legislation (Section 45 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015) and associated guidance already address the recommendation.
Home Office
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62
Accepted
Para 192
Reduce National Referral Mechanism decision-making time and clear backlog by June 2024
Recommendation
We recommend that the Home Office significantly reduces the number of days taken to make National Referral Mechanism decisions and clears the backlog of National Referral Mechanism decisions. It should aim for the target timeframe outlined in the Modern Slavery …
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Government Response Summary
The government has accepted the recommendation to reduce NRM decision times and clear the backlog, stating they have significantly increased staff by around 200 and implemented new initiatives to boost productivity.
Home Office
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69
Accepted
Para 207
Develop and maintain nationwide training programme for all First Responder Organisations.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Home Office develops and maintains a nationwide training programme for both statutory and non-statutory First Responder Organisations. This training should include identifying victims and recognising indicators of human Human trafficking 79 trafficking; gathering information on what …
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Government Response Summary
The government has accepted the recommendation to develop training for First Responder Organisations, stating it has produced e-learning modules and is developing an online Hub and a First Responder Toolkit.
Home Office
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82
Accepted
Para 241
Provide victims of trafficking with earlier, better legal aid, including currently out-of-scope areas.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government provides victims of human trafficking with earlier and better access to legal aid. This must include the following areas that are currently ‘out of scope’: pre-NRM immigration advice; advice on identification as a victim of …
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Government Response Summary
The government stated it is committed to victims engaging with the justice system and outlined existing legal aid provisions available after a positive Reasonable or Conclusive Grounds decision, but did not commit to providing earlier access or expanding legal aid to the specified 'out of scope' areas.
Home Office
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Conclusions (10)
16
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 67
The Government’s Modern Slavery Strategy, which we have recommended be updated, must set out how the Government will combat the demand for sexual exploitation created by individuals who pay for sex.
Government Response Summary
The government states it shares the Committee's focus on a strategy and references the existing Modern Slavery Strategy 2014 and Modern Slavery Act 2015, but does not commit to updating the strategy to specifically combat the demand for sexual exploitation.
17
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 68
The new Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner should actively consider including a strategy for reducing demand for sexual exploitation in the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Strategic Plan.
Government Response Summary
The government shares the committee's focus but states that the UK's response to modern slavery is already underpinned by the Modern Slavery Strategy 2014 and the Modern Slavery Act 2015, rather than committing the IASC to a new specific consideration.
43
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 137
Some police forces have had success in investigating and charging modern slavery and human trafficking cases under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 using evidence-led investigations.
Government Response Summary
The government affirms that law enforcement activity since the Modern Slavery Act 2015 has increased investigations and convictions, and it remains committed to strengthening the response to modern slavery through existing priorities and strategies.
44
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 138
There is an evidence-led mindset in relation to investigating domestic abuse which is promoted by the UK’s College of Policing but which does not seem to be the case for modern slavery and human trafficking (MSHT): no equivalent evidence-led prosecution guidance exists for MSHT.
Government Response Summary
The government highlights the dedicated Modern Slavery Unit within the Crown Prosecution Service and the training provided by the College of Policing, suggesting that evidence-led prosecution guidance for MSHT already exists.
50
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 156
Despite legislative provisions being in place since 2015, prosecution and convictions rates are still comparatively low across the UK. This is unacceptable.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges concern over low prosecution rates and highlights existing measures, such as tightening legislation through the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 and updating guidance, to strengthen the criminal justice response.
78
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 233
There is a shortage of appropriate safe housing for victims of human trafficking whilst they are within the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract. Accommodation provision varies significantly for children after referral to the National Referral Mechanism, and children are particularly vulnerable to having no access to specialist safe accommodation after …
Government Response Summary
The government stated it is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation through the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC), which manages its provision on a needs-basis and is monitored by the Home Office, implying the current system is sufficient.
86
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 249
We support Recommendation 24 of the Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and urge the Government to formalise and clarify the duties of local authority agencies to support victims of slavery and trafficking once they have left the National Referral Mechanism.
Government Response Summary
The government stated that existing homelessness legislation and local authority powers already enable support and housing priority for victims, and therefore did not commit to formalising and clarifying specific duties for local authorities beyond current provisions.
89
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 258
The National Referral Mechanism is not appropriate for children. The support is not defined as it is for adults, universally available or applied consistently. There is an overall lack of a joined-up approach across the National Referral Mechanism, child welfare and protection and criminal justice systems.
Government Response Summary
The government asserted that children referred to the NRM are supported by local authorities under existing child protection procedures and the Children Act 2004, supplemented by Independent Child Trafficking Guardians, implying the current system is appropriate and joined-up.
95
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 280
There is wide variation among local authorities in the transition pathways from child to adult safeguarding services. Guidance exists for child victims and for adult 82 Human trafficking victims, but it does not adequately take account of child victims who turn eighteen who have received or are waiting for a …
Government Response Summary
The government states that children are supported by local authorities and Independent Child Trafficking Guardians (ICTGs), which plan in advance for transitions for 18-year-olds as set out in existing guidance, implying current provisions address the issue.
101
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 301
Clearly it is not appropriate to accommodate children in hotels, particularly unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. The Government needs to show greater urgency in securing more appropriate accommodation, that is suitable for the needs of children, notwithstanding the need to keep families together.
Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation, stating that it agrees local authority care is best and has now closed all hotels for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children by January 2024, securing more appropriate accommodation.