Anti-Trafficking and Modern Slavery Bulletins - Vol 35

A regular digest of information and research related to human trafficking into and within the UK. Produced by the Research and Development Unit, on behalf of The Salvation Army’s Director of Anti-Trafficking and Modern Slavery.

Contents 1. Research, reports and journal articles 1.1 UK medical education on human trafficking: assessing uptake of the opportunity to shape awareness, safeguarding and referral in the curriculum (June 2018) 1.2 ‘Call for Purge on the People Traffickers’: An Investigation into British Newspapers’ Representation of Transnational Human Trafficking, 2000–2016 (June 2018) 1.3 UK Supermarket Supply Chains: Ending the human suffering behind our food (June 2018) 1.4 UK Modern Slavery Act Transparency in Supply Chains: The Second Year of Reporting by Universities (June 2018) 1.5 Recognizing Modern Slavery (May 2018) 1.6 Human Trafficking, Victims’ Rights and Fair Trials (May 2018) 1.7 2018 National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime (May 2018) 1.8 UK Labour Market Enforcement Strategy 2018 to 2019 (May 2018) 1.9 The Nature and Scale of Labour Exploitation Across All Sectors Within The United Kingdom (May 2018) 1.10 Horizontal Collaboration in Response to Modern Slavery Legislation: An Action Research Project (May 2018) 1.11 Confronting bias in NGO research on modern slavery (May 2018) 1.12 Life after Trafficking: A gap in the UK’s modern slavery efforts (April 2018) 1.13 Modern slavery as a public health concern in the UK (April 2018) 1.14 Eastern European migrants: contributors to ‘modern slavery’ and a burden on the NHS in Britain (April 2018) 1.15 House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts: Reducing modern slavery. Thirty-Sixth Report of Session 2017–19 (April 2018) 2. Political and legislative 2.1 Parliamentary Questions 3. Campaigns and Initiatives 3.1 The Clewer Initiative – Safe Car Wash App (June 2018) 3.2 Pilot project will teach students about modern slavery (June 2018) 3.3 Human Trafficking Foundation – New mapping of support services for survivors of modern slavery (May 2018) 3.4 Construction firm signs up GLAA Construction Protocol in fight against modern slavery (May 2018).

1. Research, reports and journal articles 1.1 UK medical education on human trafficking: assessing uptake of the opportunity to shape awareness, safeguarding and referral in the curriculum (June 2018) The paper is concerned with what is considered a shortfall in knowledge and confidence of healthcare professionals in the UK in relation to human trafficking,

4. In the news 4.1 Gang trafficking Romanian women into Lancashire jailed 4.2 Takeaway shop owner in north-east England jailed for slavery offences 4.3 Oxford modern slavery raids suspects charged 4.4 Churchgoers help stop modern slavery at car washes 4.5 Gangs to be prosecuted like ‘terror suspects’ over violent videos 4.6 British bar workers in Majorca ‘at risk of modern slavery’ 4.7 Sexual exploitation of women in ‘pop-up brothels’ is widespread 4.8 Five arrests in East Sussex modern slavery probe 4.9 Two men charged with modern slavery offences in east Kent 4.10 Four arrests in Dover and Folkestone during modern slavery raids 4.11 Landlord Hargit Bariana guilty of modern day slavery offences 4.12 Three arrests in Horley modern slavery investigation 4.13 Threat from organised crime ‘growing’, agency says 4.14 Poultry and eggs biggest sector for modern slavery in Northern Ireland 4.15 Newcastle ‘family business’ slavery gang jailed 4.16 Slavery gang made ‘hundreds of thousands of pounds’ 4.17 Joseph Rooney jailed for 11 years for modern slavery offences 4.18 Confiscation order against hotelier in trafficking case 4.19 MPs announce hand car-wash ‘slavery probe’ 4.20 Two men charged after ‘brothel’ raids in Derby 4.21 Co-op leads scheme to help slavery victims find jobs 4.22 The college cleaner no-one knew was a slave 4.23 Gang leaders, who imprisoned teenager, beat her and forced her to conceal drugs inside her, jailed 4.24 Indonesian woman ‘kept as virtual slave’ in Brighton returns home 4.25 Undercover investigation reveals work exploitation 4.26 Joseph Rooney ‘slavery victims’ were free to leave, court hears 4.27 Paul Broadbent inquest: Anti-slavery chief took own life 4.28 ‘I used to be a slave’ 4.29 Funding boost for human trafficking support groups

leading potentially to failures in safeguarding and appropriate referral. Medical education is argued to be a key point for receiving trafficking training. Of the 33 UK medical schools that took part 72 per cent did not provide trafficking education with 70 per cent having no plans to implement any education opportunities. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC5998533/

This bulletin covers material produced during the period 1 April to 30 June 2018 although it should be noted that, due to space limitations, not all relevant material may have been included. The bulletin includes links to material and sources and is provided by way of information. The information included is not necessarily endorsed or supported by The Salvation Army.

1.2 ‘Call for Purge on the People Traffickers’: An Investigation into British Newspapers’ Representation of Transnational Human Trafficking, 2000–2016 (June 2018) An in-depth qualitative analysis of a 61.5 millionword corpus of articles published by UK newspapers between 2000 and 2016, and 67-article sample corpus.

Both approaches analyse the naming and describing of victims and traffickers. Their findings conclude that trafficking for sexual exploitation is over-reported compared to other forms of trafficking, and that victims are generally presented as young, female, and vulnerable. As a result, non-stereotypical victims, of crimes like forced begging and domestic servitude, are not readily recognised as victims, and thereby are deprived of opportunities for assistance. https://link.springer.com/ chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-78214-0_2 1.3 UK Supermarket Supply Chains: Ending the human suffering behind our food (June 2018) Oxfam report looking at how big supermarkets and other corporate food giants dominate global food markets, allowing them to squeeze value from vast supply chains that span the globe, while at the bottom the bargaining power of small-scale farmers and workers has been steadily eroded in many of the countries from which UK supermarkets and others from around the world source. The result is widespread human suffering among the women and men producing our food. This report puts key findings of the global campaign report Ripe for Change: Ending human suffering in supermarket supply chains in a UK context. https://oxfamilibrary.openrepository.com/ handle/10546/620428 1.4 UK Modern Slavery Act Transparency in Supply Chains: The Second Year of Reporting by Universities (June 2018) The Business, Human Rights and the Environment Research Group published its new report on universities reporting under the Modern Slavery Act. This report analyses the Slavery and Human Trafficking statements published by universities for the financial year 2016-2017 (and published up to 31 May 2018). A qualitative approach was used to analyse statements released by 98 universities (including two university hospitals) which were obliged to produce a statement under s.54. These include 69 statements produced by universities reporting for the second time, and 29 by universities reporting for the first time. http://www.bhre.org/current-news/2018/6/27/ universities-reporting-under-the-uk-modern-slaveryact-new-report-published 1.5 Recognizing Modern Slavery (May 2018) This paper explores the issue of how effective members of the public and officers of government agencies are at recognising situations as modern slavery. Students and police officers were given seven scenarios developed from real cases and literature.

Findings suggested that police officers recognised most of the scenarios, in contrast to students. https://doi.org/10.1080/23322705.2018.1471863

1.6 Human Trafficking, Victims’ Rights and Fair Trials (May 2018) In this article the authors identify several issues in the law of evidence that may contribute to the difficulties of successful prosecutions. They argue for the victims’ rights as an important factor in evidential decisions, coupled with an insistence that such rights cannot trump the defendant’s right to a fair trial. The protection of victims and witnesses may also justify a relatively flexible approach to the admission of hearsay evidence, which avoids prejudging the truth of a witness’s evidence in order to establish that s/he is in fear. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/ abs/10.1177/0022018318761680 1.7 2018 National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime (May 2018) The 2018 National Strategic Assessment (NSA) draws intelligence from UK law enforcement, government departments, the intelligence community and the private and voluntary sectors. The assessment provides evidence that the scale and complexity of organised crime continues to grow despite notable operational successes – reinforcing the findings from the National Security Capability Review. The NSA highlights overlaps and links between all threat types. It also emphasises that criminals are abusing technology and the impact of globalisation to adapt their methods of committing crime. They operate as part of groups, networks and as individuals. http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/ publications/905-national-strategic-assessment-forsoc-2018 1.8 UK Labour Market Enforcement Strategy 2018 to 2019 (May 2018) A new report recommending tougher financial penalties for employers who exploit their workers has emphasised the importance of the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) and other government enforcement agencies in tackling labour exploitation. They include enforcing holiday pay, locally or regionally piloting licensing of hand car washes and nail bars, which have been identified as sectors at risk of labour exploitation, and making it the law that employers must provide a payslip for all workers https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/labourmarket-enforcement-strategy-2018-to-2019 1.9 The Nature and Scale of Labour Exploitation across all Sectors within the United Kingdom (May 2018) The extent of labour exploitation and slavery in modernday Britain has been laid bare in a new report by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA). Drawing on its extensive work with victims and offenders, as well as inspections at hundreds of workplaces, the GLAA has outlined the nature and scale of slavery in the UK today – who is being exploited, which industries are affected, and the methods being used. The report is argued to form part of the GLAA’s crucial work to understand the scale of exploitation of vulnerable workers so that law enforcement can identify and protect victims, and convict their perpetrators. http://www.gla.gov.uk/media/3537/external-natureand-scale-of-labour-exploitation-report-final-versionmay-2018.pdf

1.10 Horizontal Collaboration in Response to Modern Slavery Legislation: An Action Research Project (May 2018) This paper investigates how horizontal collaboration aids organisations in responding to modern slavery legislation and in gaining a socially sustainable competitive advantage.

The primary engagement has been with a multi-billionpound turnover company and its collaborations with 35 brands/retailers. Social sustainability improvements aim to enhance ethical trade and benefit vulnerable workers. http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/124976/ 1.11 Confronting bias in NGO research on modern slavery (May 2018) This chapter explores the extent to which efforts to attain more reliable, comprehensive data and knowledge on forced labour could be impeded by a lack of critical thinking towards current mainstream definitions and conceptual frameworks. The authors argue that uncritical reliance on mainstream ideas reinforces their dominance and excludes alternative views of the nature, causes and effects of forced labour. This is argued to lead directly to methodological issues that adversely affect research validity, reliability and quality. http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/51912/ 1.12 Life after Trafficking: A gap in the UK’s modern slavery efforts (April 2018) This discussion paper focuses on the limited support offered to victims of human trafficking within the UK. The Modern Slavery Act (2015) was a symbol of the UK’s commitment to combating exploitation and human trafficking. Yet the Act offers little help to people who have been trafficked to, or in, the UK to recover and build a new life. http://www.antitraffickingreview.org/index.php/ atrjournal/article/view/329 1.13 Modern slavery as a public health concern in the UK (April 2018) This research examined the ways in which modern slavery has been addressed to date as a public health issue across various national contexts. The aim was to articulate if, how and why a public health approach can be beneficial. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/cky047.084 1.14 Eastern European migrants: contributors to ‘modern slavery’ and a burden on the NHS in Britain (April 2018) This paper seeks to argue that Eastern European immigrants were framed in British newspapers as major contributors to ‘modern slavery’ in Britain, thus increasing concerns about health issues in the country. Indeed, the first wave of the EU enlargement in May 2004, adding A8 countries, and the second one in 1 January 2007, adding A2 countries, resulted in an unprecedented influx of people from the newly-added states into Britain. Such an influx was depicted as one of the major sources which increased human trafficking and contributed to an upsurge in ‘vice girls’ in the country. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/cky047.085 1.15 House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts: Reducing modern slavery. Thirty-Sixth Report of Session 2017–19 (April 2018) The Home Office introduced an ambitious Modern Slavery Strategy in 2014, but it has been argued to have taken too long to learn what works in the system, to understand

the complexities of the crime and to turn the strategy and the Modern Slavery Act into an effective and coordinated approach across government. This House of Commons Committee report outlines several fundamental issues the Government faces in better implementing the its modern slavery strategy. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/ cmselect/cmpubacc/886/886.pdf 2. Political and legislative 2.1 Parliamentary questions The following section, drawn from the Hansard Commons debates, covers responses to parliamentary questions asked by MPs, in reverse chronological order.

Oral answers 4 June Gareth Snell (Stoke-on-Trent Central; Lab/Co-op): What steps his Department is taking to tackle modern slavery.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Victoria Atkins): The Government remain committed to stamping out the despicable crime of modern slavery. We have strengthened the operational law enforcement response and introduced world-leading requirements for businesses to report on slavery in their supply chains, and we are now transforming the support that we provide to victims.

Gareth Snell: Kevin Hyland, the independent anti-slavery commissioner, stated in his resignation letter that he had too often felt that his independence was subject to the discretion of the Home Office, rather than being on a statutory basis. What will the Minister do to ensure that the next commissioner is given the independence that he needs for his role to be flexible?

Victoria Atkins: May I record our thanks to Mr Hyland for the invaluable work that he did as the commissioner. The whole point of the role of the commissioner is that it is independent, so we very much look forward to filling the position with a similarly robust and independent person in due course.

18 April Royston Smith (Southampton, Itchen; Con): What steps her Department is taking to tackle modern slavery in developing countries.

The Minister of State, Department for International Development (Alistair Burt): Tackling modern slavery is a priority for DFID. We are expanding our work in developing countries through £40 million of new programming that will reach at least 500,000 people at risk of slavery. Today, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is announcing £3 million of new funding to tackle child exploitation in the Commonwealth.

Royston Smith: Libya has become a hub for human traffickers who exploit migrants and refugees attempting to make their way to Europe. That has left thousands of women the victims of horrendous abuse. What discussions has my right hon. Friend had with the Libyan Government

of National Accord to bring traffickers to justice and to end that abuse?

Alistair Burt: As good fortune would have it, the recess took me to Libya, to Tripoli, where I met the Prime Minister, the Minister for Justice and the Minister for the Interior. We did indeed discuss the difficulties relating to trafficking that my hon. Friend mentions. We are supporting the Libyan Government with capacity building.

We are also working on a £75 million programme to try to deter migrants from moving from sub-Saharan Africa where they might be at risk on that route. It remains an important issue for us and the Government of National Accord in Libya.

Gareth Snell (Stoke-on-Trent Central; Lab/Co-op): Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires British companies with a turnover of £36 million to make declarations of actions that they are taking to reduce modern-day slavery, yet by their own admission, the Government neither keep a record of companies that should make a declaration nor monitor those that have done. What action is the Minister taking with his Government colleagues to make sure that British companies are not unwittingly perpetuating modern-day slavery?

Alistair Burt: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question.

We are setting up a new business hub to try to ensure that companies accept their obligations in that regard, and we will be working hard with them to make sure that they do.

16 April Alex Norris (Nottingham North; Lab/Co-op): If she will increase the minimum 45-day recovery and reflection period for potential victims of human trafficking.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Victoria Atkins): The Government exceed their international obligations by providing a 45day period of reflection and recovery for potential victims of modern slavery. That is not a maximum but a minimum period. The reforms to the National Referral Mechanism were focused on extending support at the point where stakeholders tell us victims need it most as they move on from support and reintegrate into their longer-term communities. We are trebling that support to 45 days, giving people a minimum of 90 days’ support plus up to six months of post-NRM support.

Alex Norris: What data is now being kept regarding outcomes for people who have been through the National Referral Mechanism, and what does this data tell us about levels of re-trafficking?

Victoria Atkins: If I may, I will write to the hon. Gentleman about that. We are very conscious, having listened to stakeholders, that the period in which they tell us victims most need support is after a decision has been made, and that is why we have trebled it.

16 April A series of questions were put to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department,

Victoria Atkins, on modern slavery, which can be viewed here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2018-04-16/ debates/3B3661A4-2C52-4E8A-96AF-35D01B9F7E70/ ModernSlavery Written answers 28 June Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2017 to Question 111296 on the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, if he will place in the Library a copy of the inquiry conducted into the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner.

Victoria Atkins: The Home Office received two complaints regarding the professional conduct of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner. An independent investigation has been carried out. This has now concluded and the investigator found that there was no case to answer. All parties have been informed and we regard the matter as closed. The report will not be released as this was an internal investigation.

26 June Judith Cummins (Bradford South; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to ensure modern slavery does not take place within the Government’s supply chains.

Victoria Atkins: Tackling modern slavery is a priority for the Home Office and it is committed to working with suppliers to address modern slavery in its supply chains.

Home Office procurement teams use the Standard Selection Questionnaire introduced in September 2016.

This includes Mandatory Exclusion Grounds for any bidders convicted of human trafficking or slavery offences.

The Home Office is working with other departments to agree an effective approach to further assessing and managing the risk of human trafficking in supply chains across Government.

26 June Judith Cummins (Bradford South: Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions his Department has had with the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner on improving levels of (a) enforcement of and (b) business compliance with section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

[Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that companies comply with section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Victoria Atkins: The Government is committed to working with businesses and civil society to drive greater compliance with section 54 and ensure production of meaningful transparency statements.

The Home Office has established the ‘Business Against Slavery Forum’, chaired by the Home Secretary and in partnership with CEOs of 13 large multinational

corporations. The Forum aims to accelerate progress in tackling modern slavery, by sharing best practice and offering support to smaller businesses. The Department plans to develop a list of businesses in scope of the legislation and will use this to write directly to Chief Executives with clear guidance and resources to support effective reporting under the Act. Home Office Ministers meet regularly with the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner to discuss issues relating to modern slavery, including compliance with section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act. The Home Office is planning to establish a Transparency in Supply Chains Advisory Group, involving the Commissioner’s office and other key stakeholders, to build a fuller understanding of the compliance picture and co-ordinate activities.

26 June Carolyn Harris (Swansea East; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to help reduce demand for commercial sexual exploitation.

[Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to combat organised sexual exploitation.

[Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to tackle commercial websites that facilitate sexual exploitation.

Victoria Atkins: The UK has some of the toughest anti-trafficking laws in the world and is committed to protecting victims and pursuing the slavery gangs behind this abhorrent trade to prevent further exploitation in the future.

In terms of reducing demand for commercial sexual services, the Government recognises the need for research on the nature and prevalence of prostitution before we consider any changes to underlying legislation and policy and has committed £150,000 to fund a research project being undertaken by the University of Bristol. The Government’s focus remains on protecting those selling sex from harm and enabling the police to target those who exploit vulnerable people involved in prostitution.

To support the police to tackle organised sex trafficking and other forms of modern slavery, the Government has provided £8.5m of additional funding to the police in England and Wales to provide bespoke and dedicated modern slavery capabilities. This police activity is supported at a national level by the National Crime Agency who lead multi-agency operations to target key thematic slavery and trafficking threats including organised sexual exploitation.

The increased law enforcement activity against the slavery gangs extends to preventing the use of the internet to facilitate sex trafficking. The NCA, supported by Government, is leading multi-agency work to investigate, disrupt and prevent online sex trafficking facilitated via commercial sex websites.

25 June Kate Hollern (Blackburn; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has identified any victims of modern slavery in Blackburn since 2010.

Victoria Atkins: The National Crime Agency (NCA) regularly publishes National Referral Mechanism data but does not collect data by specific location.

Data on the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) are available via the following link: http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/ national-referral-mechanism-statistics 25 June Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many potential victims of trafficking have been (a) identified and (b) referred to the National Referral Mechanism under Operation AIDANT (i) in 2018 and (ii) since 14 May 2018.

[Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the potential victims of trafficking identified during Operation AIDANT were arrested prior to being identified as potential victims of trafficking; and for which offences those arrests were made.

[Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the procedures used to assess whether an individual who at the point of arrest for an offence of illegal working is a potential victim of trafficking.

[Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were (a) identified as a potential victim of trafficking and (b) referred into the UK National Referral Mechanism for victims of modern slavery by (i) UK Border Force and (ii) immigration enforcement in each of the last 12 months.

Victoria Atkins: Project AIDANT is the series of multiagency operational intensifications to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking led by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

The number of potential victims reported to the NCA as being identified as a result of Project AIDANT activity so far in 2018 is 173. 111 of these were reported as having been identified as part of ‘AIDANT 11’ which took place from 14-18 May 2018. Of the 173 potential victims, 47 have been reported to the NCA as having been referred to the NRM as victims accepting support and 27 notified to the Duty To Notify (DTN) as victims not accepting support.

Data on those arrested prior to identification as potential victims of trafficking, is not captured by the NCA. The procedures for assessing whether an individual encountered by immigration enforcement is a victim of trafficking are published and contained within guidance available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/ government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_

data/file/509326/victims-of-modern-slavery-frontlinestaff-guidance-v3.pdf Quarterly data on referrals to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) are available via the following link: http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/ national-referral-mechanism-statistics Data shows only referrals to the NRM: In 2018 Q1 HO Immigration Enforcement referred 25 people to the NRM and UK Border Force also referred 25 people.

In 2017 Q4 HO Immigration Enforcement referred 23 people to the NRM and UK Border Force referred 35 people.

In 2017 Q3 HO Immigration Enforcement referred 26 people to the NRM and UK Border Force referred 43 people.

In 2017 Q2 HO Immigration Enforcement referred 19 people to the NRM and UK Border Force referred 26 people.

Data on those encountered who are thought to be victims but who do not agree to enter the NRM are recorded under the Duty to Notify. Data for Home Office referrals under Duty to Notify are published in the annual report and are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/ publications/2017-uk-annual-report-on-modern-slavery 20 June Afzal Khan (Manchester, Gorton; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2018 to Question 129315, if he will develop a cost-effective means of recording in a readily accessible format the route of travel of people who have been illegally trafficked to the UK. Caroline Nokes: The Home Office records and publishes data, broken down by nationality, of all those who make an asylum claim or are referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) as a potential victim of trafficking or modern slavery. Information concerning a claimant’s route of travel to the United Kingdom is not recorded centrally in a readily accessible format, and could only be provided at disproportionate costs by examination of individual interview transcripts and case files. There are no plans to record this information.

18 June Vernon Coaker (Gedling; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance his Department provides for police forces on their positive obligation to investigate allegations of trafficking; where such guidance is published; and if he will make a statement.

Victoria Atkins: In line with other crimes, there is a positive obligation on police to record allegations of modern slavery under the National Crime Recording Standards. Once recorded, all crimes must be assessed, which constitutes an investigation. This guidance is

published on gov.uk and is available via: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/ uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/694433/ count-violence-apr-2018.pdf The College of Policing Approved Professional Practice (APP) provides further guidance to forces on modern slavery investigations. This guidance is published on the College of Policing APP website, available via: https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/majorinvestigation-and-public-protection/modern-slavery/ 18 June Vernon Coaker (Gedling; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 10 May 2018 to Question 140986, when the alignment of subsistence rates for victims of trafficking with asylum seekers is planned to take place; and what the new subsistence rates are to be set at for victims of modern slavery supported by the National Referral Mechanism living in (a) accommodation in a safe house with food provided and (b) a safe house where they purchase their own food, who (i) have applied for asylum and (ii) are receiving outreach support.

Victoria Atkins: We have not yet announced a date for the alignment of subsistence rates and we will set this out in due course, when we have finalised the specific details around the implementation. We are working closely with stakeholders to ensure that this happens as smoothly as possible. The overall amount of money available for supporting victims of modern slavery will not fall, but by making these changes more money is being made available to treble the period of ‘move on’ support, which will happen at the same time, and will help people leaving victim support with their transition to other arrangements.

When considering the level of these rates, the essential needs of potential victims were assessed to be comparable to the needs of asylum seekers. This is why the tested and established methodology that has been developed to measure the level of subsistence for asylum seekers will be adopted to measure the level of subsistence for potential victims of modern slavery. The rate is reassessed annually, and in 2018 was increased to £37.75. Where it has been identified that victims of slavery have needs above those of asylum seekers or have additional entitlements under the Council of Europe Convention Against Trafficking in Human Beings, these needs are met within the existing Adult Victims of Modern Slavery Care Contract. The methodology includes an allowance for individuals to purchase their food, and this will be taken into consideration when considering the level of subsistence for potential victims who live in catered accommodation, to ensure consistency throughout support.

Victims will continue to receive dedicated and expert support, which is tailored to their unique needs as victims of modern slavery. This includes access to legal aid, counselling, and NHS medical and dental services.

This will ensure there is a consistent approach for all individuals receiving similar government support. It is also essential that we target support to confirmed victims, at the point they need it most.

We are working closely with The Salvation Army and the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner to ensure that the implementation of this change is as smooth as possible.

18 June Vernon Coaker (Gedling; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Modern Slavery and Implementation Group last met; and what the date is of its next planned meeting.

Victoria Atkins: The Modern Slavery Strategy and Implementation Group (MSSIG), which I chair, brings together key stakeholders including civil society to support the implementation of the Government’s modern slavery strategy.

The group meets quarterly. The last meeting took place on 24 October 2017. Unfortunately, the meeting scheduled for May 2018 was postponed. The date of the next meeting is currently being arranged.

14 June Vernon Coaker (Gedling; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many victims of modern slavery have had their weekly allowance reduced from (a) £65 to £37.75 and (b) £65 to £17.

Victoria Atkins: Currently, potential victims of modern slavery who are supported through the Adult Victims of Modern Slavery Care Contract usually receive £65 per week to cover their subsistence needs.

Some modern slavery victims are also asylum seekers, and in normal circumstances this group is supported under separate arrangements provided for in Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Asylum seekers receiving support under these arrangements usually receive £37.75 per week to cover their essential needs, the amount provided for in the Asylum Support Regulations 2000.

No published figures are available, but a single person with no dependants, previously supported under the Care Contract but who has transferred to support under Part 6 of the 1999 Act, is likely to be receiving £37.75 per week. Lower amounts are provided only if the person has access to other income or assets liable to be taken into consideration under the 2000 Regulations.

Plans to fully harmonise the subsistence rates provided to modern slavery victims with the rates provided to asylum seekers were announced in October last year and the implementation plans are currently being developed. The changes will result in reductions to the rates for adults, but increases for their dependent children and additional support for those leaving the support system after final confirmation of whether they are victims of modern slavery.

Victims will also continue to receive other support separately, including legal aid, counselling, and NHS medical and dental service.

14 June Vernon Coaker (Gedling; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many FTSE 100

companies did not comply with section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015; and if he will make a statement.

Victoria Atkins: The Government does not monitor compliance with section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The legislation was designed to harness pressure from civil society and we are pleased that NGOs are using company statements to hold businesses to account. Two independent repository websites have been set up to collate these statements. The Government is not involved in running or funding either website. Both websites make different estimates of the total number of statements published so far. The latest estimates can be accessed online at http://www.modernslaveryregistry.org and https://tiscreport.org The Government is committed to working with businesses and civil society to drive greater compliance and higherquality reporting. The Home Secretary has established the ‘Business Against Slavery Forum’ with CEOs of 13 large multinational corporations, which aims to accelerate progress in tackling modern slavery by sharing best practice and offering support to smaller businesses.

In October 2017 we wrote to over 10,000 businesses reminding them of their obligations to report and will be undertaking more direct communication activity this year.

14 June Vernon Coaker (Gedling; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average length of time is that a victim of modern slavery has to wait for a (a) reasonable grounds decision and (b) conclusive grounds decision.

Victoria Atkins: The National Crime Agency (NCA) regularly publishes National Referral Mechanism data but does not collect data about the timescales for reaching reasonable grounds or conclusive grounds decisions by either UKVI or the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Unit in the NCA. Between August 2015 and March 2017, the Home Office ran a pilot to test a new decision-making process. The evaluation of that pilot considered the time taken to reach reasonable and conclusive grounds decisions and this information is detailed in table B6 of the evaluation report, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/ publications/an-evaluation-of-the-national-referralmechanism-pilot The Government has announced reforms to the National Referral Mechanism, which includes measures aimed at improving decision-making timescales, such as the introduction of a new digital system.

14 June Vernon Coaker (Gedling; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many confirmed victims of modern slavery following a positive conclusive grounds decision have not been granted discretionary leave to remain and face deportation.

Caroline Nokes: Any potential decisions to refuse applications for discretionary leave to remain for

confirmed victims of modern slavery are currently on hold pending further guidance and consideration of the Court of Appeal judgment in the case of (PK (Ghana) v SSHD) on 13 February 2018.

No data is available on the number of people who might be subject to deportation if their discretionary leave applications are refused once decision making is resumed.

6 June Faisal Rashid (Warrington South; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of resources available to police forces to tackle violent crime.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Minister for Policing and the Fire Service engaged with every police force in England and Wales to better understand the changing demands on policing, and how these can best be managed. We recognised that the police are seeing increased demands as more complex crime is being reported, including previously hidden crimes such as child sexual exploitation and modern slavery, and from the terrorist threat.

We are helping the police to respond to changing demand with a £460m increase in overall funding in 2018/19, including increased funding for local policing through Council Tax precept.

in scope; for example, although Companies House is working to make their data more readily accessible, it is not currently possible to filter their database by turnover size. Therefore we are planning to obtain a list of organisations that are subject to this legislation from a range of non-governmental sources.

5 June Gareth Snell (Stoke-on-Trent Central; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister of State of 18 April 2018, Official Report, column 307, what progress her Department has made on establishing a business hub to support the implementation of Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Harriett Baldwin: Good progress has been made on the establishment of the Business Integrity Hub working closely with the Department for International Trade and Foreign and Commonwealth Office. DFID has engaged with over 80 companies to help businesses integrate analysis and management of integrity issues, including modern slavery, into their strategies for doing business in developing countries. The Hub will be operational later this year.

5 June Vernon Coaker (Gedling; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any guidance is in place for the police on the positive obligation to investigate allegations of trafficking; and if he will make a statement.

Home Office are the lead department for the implementation of Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The Business Integrity Hub will not directly support implementation of Section 54 but will contribute to the legislation’s objective to increase transparency in supply chains. It will do so by linking businesses with DFID’s Responsible Accountable Transparent Enterprise (RATE) programme for advice on ethical supply chain management.

Victoria Atkins: In line with other crimes, there is a positive obligation on police to record allegations of modern slavery under the National Crime Recording Standards. Once recorded, all crimes must be assessed, which constitutes an investigation.

5 June Gareth Johnson (Dartford; Con): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of people prosecuted under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

The College of Policing Approved Professional Practice (APP) provides guidance to forces regarding modern slavery investigations. Through the Police Transformation Fund modern slavery typology-specific guides are being developed to assist investigating officers further, based on debriefs of investigations, academic sources and professionals.

Lucy Frazer: The number of defendants prosecuted under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 in England and Wales, from 2015 to 2017, can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/ uploads/attachment_data/file/707811/outcomes-byoffence-tool-2017.xlsx

5 June Gareth Snell (Stoke-on-Trent Central; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to identify companies that are required to make declarations in relation to their supply chains under Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Victoria Atkins: Under Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, commercial organisations that carry on a business in the UK and have an annual turnover of £36 million or more, are required to publish a slavery and human trafficking statement.

There are a number of practical difficulties in using the data Government currently holds to identify businesses

Search ‘offence’ for ‘106 Modern Slavery’.

Figures for 2018 are planned for publication in May 2019.

23 May Frank Field (Birkenhead; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what provision he has made to deal with the potential increase in demand for capacity resulting from (a) victims having their support extended due to the interim guidance given as a result of the PK (Ghana) decision and (b) continued referrals into the National Referral Mechanism as a result of the PK (Ghana) decision; and whether additional financial resources have been made available for such potential increases.

Victoria Atkins: The Home Office commissions The Salvation Army to provide a comprehensive package of support to potential victims of modern slavery referred into the National Referral Mechanism. This is delivered through a network of support providers throughout England and Wales.

Vietnam to combat modern slavery and human trafficking.

We have a strong information-sharing relationship and are working to build the capacity of both countries to support victims and bring perpetrators to justice through the Modern Slavery Fund and Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.

Whilst we consider the implication of the Court of Appeal judgment in the case of (PK (Ghana) v SSHD), interim guidance has been issued to caseworkers to put on hold any refusals of discretionary leave to remain (DL) decisions for confirmed victims of modern slavery.

There is currently no Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on human trafficking between the Home Office and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. However, the UK is working to develop an MoU on human trafficking to enable greater co-operation to apprehend perpetrators and support those at risk.

Grants of discretionary leave are continuing. This guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/interimoperation-guidance-discretionary-leave-for-victims-ofmodern-slavery In line with standard practice, support providers under the Victim Care Contract can seek an extension of support for confirmed victims who are awaiting a discretionary leave decision.

This service has been designed to accommodate both potential increases in the numbers of people requiring support and to provide extensions of care for those already in the system for as long as it is required.

22 May Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what consideration he has given to using a human trafficking risk index in order to support a sustainable trade agenda that removes modern-day slavery practices in global supply chains.

Greg Hands: The UK is committed to working with international partners and businesses to tackle modern slavery in global supply chains. It is vital that increased trade is not based on the exploitation and abuse of workers. The whole of government is considering what further steps we may be able to take to prevent modern slavery, through our policy development.

10 May Sarah Champion (Rotherham; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effect of his Department’s memorandum of understanding with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on the improvement of (a) identification, (b) notification, (c) referral and (d) assisted voluntary return of victims and potential victims of human trafficking.

[Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effect of his Department’s memorandum of understanding with the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the improvement of (a) identification, (b) notification, (c) referral and (d) assisted voluntary return of victims and potential victims of human trafficking.

Victoria Atkins: We are working in close partnership with the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Socialist Republic of

There is a 2004 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Co-operation to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons. The MoU is primarily a ‘statement of goodwill’ and has helped to facilitate international co-operation between the UK and Nigeria to combat human trafficking.

10 May Vernon Coaker (Gedling; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 10 May 2018 to Question 140986 on Slavery, when the planned alignment of subsistence rates for victims of trafficking with those for asylum seekers will take place; what the subsistence rates will be following that alignment for victims of modern slavery who are supported by the National Referral Mechanism living in a safe house (a) with food provided and (b) where they purchase their own food; and how many such people (i) have applied for asylum and (ii) are receiving outreach support.

Victoria Atkins: We have not yet announced a date for the alignment of subsistence rates and we will set this out in due course, when we have finalised the specific details around the implementation. We are working closely with stakeholders to ensure that this happens as smoothly as possible. The overall amount of money available for supporting victims of modern slavery will not fall, but by making these changes more money is being made available to treble the period of ‘move on’ support, which will happen at the same time, and will help people leaving victim support with their transition to other arrangements.

When considering the level of these rates, the essential needs of potential victims were assessed to be comparable to the needs of asylum seekers. This is why the tested and established methodology that has been developed to measure the level of subsistence for asylum seekers will be adopted to measure the level of subsistence for potential victims of modern slavery. The rate is reassessed annually, and in 2018 was increased to £37.75.

Where it has been identified that victims of slavery have needs above those of asylum seekers or have additional entitlements under the Council of Europe Convention Against Trafficking in Human Beings, these needs are met within the existing Adult Victims of Modern Slavery Care Contract. The methodology includes an allowance for individuals to purchase their food, and this will be taken into consideration when considering the level of subsistence for potential victims who live in catered

accommodation, support.

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Victims will continue to receive dedicated and expert support, which is tailored to their unique needs as victims of modern slavery. This includes access to legal aid, counselling, and NHS medical and dental services.

This will ensure there is a consistent approach for all individuals receiving similar government support. It is also essential that we target support to confirmed victims, at the point they need it most.

We are working closely with The Salvation Army and the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner to ensure that the implementation of this change is as smooth as possible.

9 May Anne Marie Morris (Newton Abbot; Con): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that potential victims of modern slavery are aware of the free legal assistance that they are entitled to from the Ministry of Justice.

Victoria Atkins: The Government provides publiclyfunded immigration legal advice to individuals identified as potential victims of modern slavery. In addition to this, advice is also available for victims of modern slavery who wish to make a claim under employment law or make a claim for damages in relation to their exploitation. These provisions are subject to statutory tests of means and merits.

The Home Office recently published a leaflet on immigration options for victims of modern slavery. The leaflet explains that, if you are accepted as a potential victim of modern slavery by the National Referral Mechanism, you are entitled to legal aid to discuss your immigration options. Further details can be found on the gov.uk website: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/ uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/642112/ help_for 9 May Anne Marie Morris (Newton Abbot; Con): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to address the denial of free legal assistance to potential victims of modern slavery for which they are entitled.

Lucy Frazer: The Government has always been clear that publicly-funded immigration legal advice is available for individuals identified as potential victims of trafficking or modern slavery.

We have recently made a technical clarification about the work that can be funded, but victims of modern slavery and human trafficking in immigration cases continue to be entitled to legal aid funding.

8 May Mr Alister Jack (Dumfries and Galloway; Con): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has identified the port of Cairnryan as a route for human trafficking; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes: Tackling human trafficking and modern slavery, both in the UK and overseas, is a priority for the government.

The tackling of human trafficking is a devolved matter for the Scottish Government. At the border, intelligenceled operations to disrupt traffickers and protect victims is the key to Border Force’s response to the threat of modern slavery. Through the Modern Slavery Threat Group, Border Force work alongside UKVI, IE and other law enforcement agencies to identify and disrupt modern slavery offenders.

It is not Border Force policy to release port-specific information as it could compromise operational and national security.

8 May Frank Field (Birkenhead; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2018 to Question 129973 on Slavery, how many people issued with positive conclusive grounds decisions (a) received a holding letter confirming a determination is on hold, (b) continue to be supported by the adult victim care contract and (c) had support from the adult victim care contract suspended since his Department published its interim guidance.

Victoria Atkins: The Court of Appeal issued a judgment in the case of (PK (Ghana) v SSHD) on 13 February 2018. We are considering the implications of the judgment.

As we do so, interim guidance has been issued to caseworkers to put on hold any refusals of discretionary leave to remain (DL) decisions for confirmed victims of modern slavery. Grants of discretionary leave are continuing. This guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/interimoperation-guidance-discretionary-leave-for-victims-ofmodern-slavery In line with standard practice, support providers under the Victim Care Contract can seek an extension of support for confirmed victims who are awaiting a discretionary leave decision.

We are not aware of any individuals in support whose DL decision is on hold where continuing support has not been requested by the support provider.

The Home Office does not publish data on how many such determinations are on hold.

8 May Vernon Coaker (Gedling; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he has taken to assess the effect of the alignment of subsistence rates provided to victims of modern slavery to those received by asylum seekers; and if he will publish an Equality Impact Assessment on that alignment.

Victoria Atkins: The subsistence rates for victims of modern slavery are provided to cover the essential living needs of potential victims of modern slavery. It is essential that we target support to confirmed victims at

the point they need it most. The overall amount of money available for victim support will not fall, but by making these changes more money is being made available to treble the period of ‘move on’ support, which will help people leaving victim support with their transition to other arrangements.

When considering the level of these rates, the essential needs of potential victims were assessed to be comparable to the needs of asylum seekers. This is why the tested and established methodology that has been developed to measure the level of subsistence for asylum seekers will be adopted to measure the level of subsistence for potential victims of modern slavery. Where it has been identified that victims of slavery have needs above those of asylum seekers or have additional entitlements under the Council of Europe Convention Against Trafficking in Human Beings, these needs will continue to be met within the existing Adult Victims of Modern Slavery Care Contract.

Victims will continue to receive dedicated and expert support, which is tailored to their unique needs as victims of modern slavery. This includes access to legal aid, counselling, and NHS medical and dental services.

This will ensure there is a fair and consistent approach for all individuals receiving similar government support.

We are working closely with The Salvation Army and the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner to ensure that the implementation of this change is as smooth as possible, and the Equalities Impact Assessment will be published when the process for the implementation of the alignment is announced.

8 May Vernon Coaker (Gedling; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he plans for the regulations on identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery under Section 50 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 to be open to public consultation.

Victoria Atkins: Section 50 of the Modern Slavery Act confers a power on the Home Secretary to make regulations on identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery. The Act does not require the regulations to be subject to a public consultation prior to being laid before parliament.

The regulations are subject to the affirmative resolution procedure. This will provide parliamentarians from both Houses with an opportunity to scrutinise and debate the contents of the regulations.

1 May Frank Field (Birkenhead; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how the eligibility criteria for local authority anti-trafficking pilots relating to the trafficking of people have been determined.

[Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of victims of people trafficking who will be eligible for support under local authority anti-trafficking pilots.

Victoria Atkins: The Government wants to ensure that when adult victims of modern slavery leave National Referral Mechanism (NRM) support, they are able to begin rebuilding their lives as early as possible. Victims leaving the NRM can either be supported to return to their country of origin, apply for asylum, or move into a local community.

As part of NRM reform, Home Office Ministers are committed to working with local authorities to test ‘transition pathways’ for victims who move out of NRM support and into local communities, with a view to identifying best practice.

Over the next year, we will be working with six local authorities on this project which will contribute to a more robust evidence base including the number of victims who move into local communities after NRM support and what support they require.

1 May Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many modern slavery operations Immigration Enforcement Crime teams partnered in each of the last three years.

Caroline Nokes: We do not hold the data requested.

26 April Frank Field (Birkenhead; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the article entitled ‘Premier League to question clubs over trafficking’, published by The Times on 23 April 2018, what assessment he has made of the level of risk of child trafficking within the supply chains of Premier League football clubs; and what steps the Government is taking to tackle modern slavery in sport supply chains.

Victoria Atkins: The threat of modern slavery and human trafficking is assessed by the National Crime Agency on a regular basis to inform the National Strategic Assessment.

There has not been a specific assessment of the level of risk of child trafficking within the supply chains of Premier League football clubs.

Through the Transparency in Supply Chains provisions of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 the Government has introduced a requirement for large businesses, including Premier League football clubs, to publish an annual statement setting out the steps they are taking to prevent and tackle modern slavery in their supply chains.

We are currently considering what more can be done on a sector-by-sector basis to ensure that businesses are taking serious steps to prevent modern slavery.

The Government recognises that child victims of modern slavery and trafficking are particularly vulnerable and has committed to the full national roll-out of Independent Child Trafficking Advocates as well as allocating £2.2m from the Child Trafficking Protection Fund to deliver tailored support for victims of child trafficking.

25 April Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to

the Answer of 18 April 2018 to Question 135341, what her definition of ‘in due course’ is in relation to when she plans to respond to the letter of 16 February 2018 referenced M2417/18.

Victoria Atkins: Government is committed to ensuring that victims of modern slavery are comprehensively supported during their time in the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), and that they are less vulnerable when they leave specialist support. This is why Government announced comprehensive reforms to the NRM in October 2017, including the introduction of an increased period of ‘move on’ support for those transitioning out of government-funded support, and the provision of six months’ drop-in support for those who have leave to remain in the UK. Given the complexities of the issues raised in M2417/18, it is right that the Home Office carefully considers these before responding.

23 April Mr Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Hall Green; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help tackle modern slavery in Libya.

Alistair Burt: The UK is committed to safe, legal and wellmanaged migration. We need a comprehensive approach, addressing the root causes of migration, as well as their consequences. The Prime Minister has made eradicating modern slavery one of her top foreign policy priorities.

Our new £75 million migration programme will specifically target migrants travelling from West Africa via the Sahel to Libya and will provide protection and critical humanitarian support to reduce suffering and exploitation. The UK also supports the Declaration from the EU-Africa Summit to address the situation in Libya, including efforts to sanction people smugglers, and the establishment of a UN-EU-AU Taskforce to facilitate the Assisted Voluntary Return for migrants in Libya. We support further efforts in this area, including by the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa.

I recently discussed this issue with representatives from the Libyan Government of National Accord in Tripoli.

20 April Anne Marie Morris (Newton Abbot; Con): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to ensure police forces have identified a single point of contact on modern slavery and exploitation at the (a) strategic command and (b) tactical investigative level.

[Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to ensure that single points of contact for victims of modern slavery and exploitation (a) share best practice (b) convene quarterly regional meetings and (c) convene six-monthly national meetings.

[Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to increase the capacity of the Modern Slavery Threat Group to produce intelligence-based assessments of the (a) national, (b) regional, and (c) cross-border threat from modern slavery.

[Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to recommendation 4 of the Modern Slavery Act Review, what steps her Department have taken to introduce training for front-line (a) police officers and (b) criminal justice staff to (i) raise awareness of and (ii) support victims of modern slavery.

[Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to recommendation 5 of the Modern Slavery Act Review, what support has her Department provided to the Modern Slavery Threat Group to establish an online resource centre for (a) single points of contact and (b) approved account holders working for other organisations.

[Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to recommendation 6 of the Modern Slavery Act Review, what support has her Department provided to the Modern Slavery Threat Group to (a) improve data collection by disseminating guidance on which cases should be recorded as exploitative or trafficking offences, and (b) enforce the use of nationally consistent processes to (i) collect and (ii) assess data and intelligence from partner organisations.

[Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to recommendation 7 of the Modern Slavery Act Review, what steps her Department has taken to ensure that all complainants in (a) trafficking and (b) exploitation cases provide statements to police officers who are trained to deal with vulnerable witnesses.

[Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to recommendation 8 of the Modern Slavery Act Review, what steps her Department has taken to adopt the two-stage Achieving Best Evidence interview process.

Victoria Atkins: In October 2016 the Home Secretary announced £8.5m of additional funding would be made available to police forces in England and Wales to transform the policing response to modern slavery. The funding from the Police Transformation Fund has provided for nearly 70 new and dedicated roles to provide the police with improved intelligence, better training and specialist tactical advice to overhaul and strengthen the operational response. Included in the additional capabilities are: Single Points of Contact (SPOCs) Forces have been encouraged to identify tactical and strategic SPOCs and have been given an action plan for SPOCs to help them develop best practice. A programme of roadshows and events that bring these SPOCs together at each level has taken place over the last year and this schedule projects forward beyond the end of the funding period.

Intelligence and Data The Joint Slavery and Trafficking Analysis Centre (JSTAC) is building and developing the strategic intelligence picture by improving data collection and analysis of the information gathered. To aid in international dissemination of information, a seconded national expert to Europol to

co-ordinate activity between UK law enforcement and European counterparts during cross-border investigations has been implemented. Supporting the JSTAC, the police national insight team and regional analysts located in the Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCUs) provide regular intelligence products to inform policing at a national, regional, and force level.

All three of the analytical teams, and a separate team dedicated to overcoming challenges in the dissemination of NRM material, are contributing to guidance to forces about crime recording and intelligence flows within law enforcement and between partners.

Training and dealing with vulnerable people The College of Policing accredited programme of training activity for all frontline police officers and staff, was launched in July 2017. Over 120 police trainers have been trained in delivering an awareness-raising module within forces. Over 1,000 frontline staff have attended awarenessraising roadshows organised in each region. In addition, funding has been made available for a specialist training course for detectives working on modern slavery cases, which includes advice and guidance on supporting victims through the CJS process. To date over 300 investigators have gone through these courses. In addition, new specialist guidance for officers who interview vulnerable victims of trafficking has been developed and over 575 interviewers have received training linked to this. Resources to support investigators, analysts and front-line staff in the police, and appropriate other agencies, are available through the College of Policing Polka site.

One of the two victim advocacy roles within the Modern Slavery Police Transformation Programme has focused on improving the use of the Achieving Best Evidence (ABE) process in modern slavery cases, in light of the recommendation made in the Modern Slavery Act Review.

This includes developing specialist interview techniques for victims reporting modern slavery. The approach has been endorsed by the College of Policing and promoted to over 575 existing ABE interviewers to date.

The Crown Prosecution Service has delivered mandatory face-to-face accredited training for prosecutors to develop expertise and build resilience in complex casework units, central casework units and for criminal justice advisers overseas.

Outcomes As a result of this investment the number of modern slavery law enforcement operations ongoing at any one time has more than tripled (from 188 in December 2018 to 643 in March 2018). As of March 2018, police services are working to identify and protect at least 1,500 vulnerable persons whom the police consider may be victims of modern slavery.

23 April Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which agency is leading Operation AIDANT; and between which agencies have partnership agreements been established.

[Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many potential victims of trafficking have been (a) identified and (b) referred to the National Referral Mechanism under Operation AIDANT. [Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many arrests for illegal working have been made during Operation AIDANT. Victoria Atkins: Project AIDANT is the series of multiagency operational intensifications to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking led by the National Crime Agency. During 2017 all UK territorial police forces, including the British Transport Police, took part along with other law enforcement agencies including the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, Immigration Enforcement, Border Force, Europol, DWP, HMRC and Regional Organised Crime Units. Activities under Project AIDANT were also supported by NGOs, local authorities and Fire and Rescue Services in some areas.

During 2017, over 560 potential victims were identified through Project AIDANT activity with 57 cases reported as having been referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) and 77 to Duty to Notify (DtN). The number of potential victims includes victims encountered overseas during the operations who do not qualify for referral to the UK NRM and DTN. Data on arrests for illegal working is not captured by the NCA. 23 April Alex Norris (Nottingham North; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether regular safeguarding inspections of subcontractors are carried out by The Salvation Army in its capacity as the Government’s modern slavery victim care contract manager.

Victoria Atkins: The Salvation Army (TSA) are contracted by the Home Office to deliver the Victim Care Contract, which ensures that the needs of adult potential victims of modern slavery are met. This includes accommodation, medical care, counselling, translation services and a dedicated specialist support worker. TSA are required to adhere to the Home Office’s own requirements in respect of safeguarding.

TSA subcontracts to a network of 13 subcontractors in England and Wales to deliver this service. Within the contract, there are requirements for subcontractors to be inspected on a regular basis; these are inspections on both accommodation standards and safeguarding, which are carried out annually.

The Salvation Army undertakes routine safeguarding checks of all subcontracted provision – undertaken by their independent inspection team. The Key Performance Indicators show that these inspections consistently prove satisfactory across all subcontractors.

23 April Alex Norris (Nottingham North; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development,

pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister of State, Department for International Development of 18 April 2018, Official Report, column 307 on Modern Slavery, what the functions of the business hub will be; where the hub will be located; and what the hub’s governance structure will be.

Alistair Burt: The Hub for Business Integrity will work with UK companies engaging with developing countries to enable them to meet international and domestic standards on anti-corruption and human rights. It will bring together advice and support for UK businesses operating overseas from a range of UK government departments. The Hub is currently under development.

23 April Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 18 April 2018 to Question 135421, how many arrests of potential perpetrators of trafficking and modern slavery were made in relation to cases of trafficking identified during Operation Magnify; and what the outcome of those arrests has been.

Caroline Nokes: This question cannot be answered because any cases referred by Immigration Compliance & Enforcement teams to investigate the perpetrators of trafficking and modern slavery which are subsequently adopted by Immigration Enforcement crime teams, police or GLAA to investigate, will be commissioned under new operation names and taken forward on a caseby-case basis by the agency most suited to the specific circumstances encountered.

This process involves multiple case management systems and does not afford the capability to link subsequent investigations back to the operation from where the referral was originally made.

19 April Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough; Con): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will introduce the use of the Dun and Bradsheet human trafficking risk index when allocating funding.

Department is taking to enforce compliance with Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

[Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of applying sanctions to businesses that fail to comply with Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Victoria Atkins: As a result of the world-leading provisions in the Modern Slavery Act 2015, we have seen thousands of transparency statements published and businesses are now more focused on this issue than ever before.

The legislation was designed to harness pressure from civil society and we are pleased that NGOs are using company statements to hold businesses to account, including contacting businesses that have not yet published statements, and producing benchmarking reports on different sectors.

In October 2017 we wrote to over 10,000 businesses reminding them of their obligations to report. The Home Secretary also established a new ‘Business Against Slavery Forum’, which aims to accelerate progress in tackling modern slavery by sharing best practice and offering support to smaller businesses.

We are considering what more can be done to drive greater levels of compliance and higher quality reporting.

We do not think that a burdensome regime of government regulation and punitive sanctions is the most effective way to encourage business transparency. Court injunctions remain an option for the future if companies fail to comply.

13 April Louise Haigh (Sheffield, Heeley; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has conducted an assessment of the (a) performance and (b) effectiveness of the national Modern Slavery Helpline.

Alistair Burt: Tackling modern slavery is a priority for DFID, and we are expanding our work in developing countries through £40 million of new programming that will reach at least 500,000 people at risk of slavery.

Victoria Atkins: The Modern Slavery Helpline is run by the charity Unseen and is completely independent of Government. Information about the number and types of calls received by the Modern Slavery Helpline can be found on the Unseen website http://www.modernslaveryhelpline. org/information/stats or by contacting Unseen directly on https://www.unseenuk.org/contact-us

Businesses have a key role to play in tackling modern slavery, and though we are not currently using the Dun and Bradstreet Index, we are supportive of approaches like these which help business assess risk in their supply chains.

13 April Frank Field (Birkenhead; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many local authorities applied for the modern slavery pilot scheme; and how were successful applicants selected.

Through our Responsible, Accountable, and Transparent Enterprises Programme, we are working with organisations including the Ethical Trading Initiative, the World Benchmarking Alliance, and Humanity United to develop responsible business approaches.

Victoria Atkins: As part of NRM reform, Home Office Ministers committed to testing ‘transition pathways’ with local authorities to identify best practice in supporting victims to move out of central government-funded support and into local communities.

18 April Sarah Champion (Rotherham; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her

Nine local authorities applied to be part of this testing process and applications were assessed based on whether their proposals aligned with the aims of the project –

for example, whether the proposals related to support for victims at the end of the NRM process, and whether they would provide opportunity to test the role of local authorities and their partners in supporting victims to transition out of NRM care.

13 April Louise Haigh (Sheffield, Heeley; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many referrals to the National Referral Mechanism for children aged under 18, had ticked criminal services (ie involved the commission of an offence by the victim) under section D of the referral form, in (a) 2017-18, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2015-16.

[Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many referrals to the National Referral Mechanism for children aged under 18, had ticked yes for involvement in criminality highlighting involvement of adults under section E of the referral form in (a) 201718, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2015-16.

[Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many referrals for children aged under 18 to the National Referral Mechanism had ticked the box suspicions for involvement in criminality highlighting involvement of adults under section E of the referral form in (a) 2017-18, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2015-16.

[Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many referrals for children aged under 18 to the National Referral Mechanism had ticked yes for going missing and being found in areas where they have no known links under section E of the referral form in (a) 2017-18, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2015-16.

Caroline Nokes: The number of operations referred to Criminal and Financial Investigation where the primary crime type was marked as modern slavery was as follows: 2015/16: 48 2016/17: 61 2017/18: 38 This data has been derived from local management information and is therefore subject to change.

13 April Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many potential cases of people trafficking or modern slavery were identified during the course of Operation Magnify; and by which agencies such cases were identified.

[Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many potential cases of people trafficking or modern slavery identified during the course of Operation Magnify resulted in victims entering National Referral Mechanism support accommodation.

Caroline Nokes: The answer provided shows the number of Potential Victim of Trafficking (PVoT) cases that were accepted into the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) following their identification during Operation Magnify illegal working operations. (135423) Answer: 85 Period Number Arrests 2015-2016 6 2016-2017 51 2017-2018 28

Victoria Atkins: The National Crime Agency (NCA), publishes statistics on referrals into the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). These statistics are published on a quarterly basis and the NCA has recently published the complete statistics for 2017. These statistics include the breakdown of referrals for children by nationality and primary exploitation type. Criminal Exploitation is recorded as a sub-category of Labour Exploitation within the statistics and includes children found in cannabis farms, nail bars and those involved in ‘County Lines’ gang exploitation.

The answer provided shows the number of Potential Victim of Trafficking (PVoT) cases identified during the Operation Magnify series of illegal working operations.

None of these operations was carried out with other agencies in attendance.

The 2017 Report is available via the following link: http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/ national-referral-mechanism-statistics/2017-nrmstatistics/884-nrm-annual-report-2017

[Grouped questions] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority on exploitation of labour in the car wash industry.

Information detailed within section E of the NRM referral form is used to guide and inform the case worker as to the reasons for the referral, not to facilitate the case management of the referral. No detail is recorded within the NRM case management system of this data.

Victoria Atkins: Home Office officials have been working closely with the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) to consider measures to address hand car washes and nail bars, which fall outside of the sectors licensed by the GLAA, but have been identified as high risk for labour exploitation and modern slavery.

13 April Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central; Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many potential cases of modern slavery were encountered by Immigration Enforcement Compliance teams in each of the past three years.

13 April Frank Field (Birkenhead: Lab): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority on exploitation of labour in the nail bar industry.

The Director of Labour Market Enforcement has also been looking at enforcement in these sectors as part of his forthcoming labour market enforcement strategy and the Government looks forward to considering his recommendations.

4. In the News 4.1 Gang trafficking Romanian women into Lancashire jailed BBC News, 19 June https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englandlancashire-44531862 4.2 Takeaway shop owner in north-east England jailed for slavery offences The Guardian, 18 June https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jun/18/ takeaway-shop-owner-in-northumberland-jailed-forslavery-offences 4.3 Oxford modern slavery raids suspects charged BBC News, 7 June https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englandoxfordshire-44396982 4.4 Churchgoers help stop modern slavery at car washes BBC News, 2 June https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-englandderbyshire-44337746/churchgoers-help-stop-modernslavery-at-car-washes 4.5 Gangs to be prosecuted like ‘terror suspects’ over violent videos BBC News, 30 May https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-englandlondon-44300724 4.6 British bar workers in Majorca ‘at risk of modern slavery’ BBC News, 25 May https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44252095 4.7 Sexual exploitation of women in ‘pop-up brothels’ is widespread The Guardian, 21 May https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/may/21/ sexual-exploitation-uk-women-pop-up-brothels-report

4.12 Three arrests in Horley modern slavery investigation BBC News, 15 May https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englandsurrey-44129740 4.13 Threat from organised crime ‘growing’, agency says BBC News, 13 May https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44102751 4.14 Poultry and eggs biggest sector for modern slavery in Northern Ireland Belfast Telegraph, 8 May https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northernireland/poultry-and-eggs-biggest-sector-for-modernslavery-in-northern-ireland-36885418.html 4.15 Newcastle ‘family business’ slavery gang jailed BBC News, 4 May https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englandtyne-43978104 4.16 Slavery gang made ‘hundreds of thousands of pounds’ BBC News, 3 May https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englandtyne-43994429 4.17 Joseph Rooney jailed for 11 years for modern slavery offences BBC News, 26 April https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englandlincolnshire-43796222 4.18 Confiscation order against hotelier in trafficking case BBC News, 25 April https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlandsislands-43898655 4.19 MPs announce hand car-wash ‘slavery probe’ BBC News, 23 April https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43868920

4.8 Five arrests in East Sussex modern slavery probe BBC News, 18 May https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englandsussex-44171877

4.20 Two men charged after ‘brothel’ raids in Derby BBC News, 19 April https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englandderbyshire-43820528

4.9 Two men charged with modern slavery offences in east Kent BBC News, 17 May https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englandkent-44155409

4.21 Co-op leads scheme to help slavery victims find jobs BBC News, 16 April https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englandmanchester-43789077

4.10 Four arrests in Dover and Folkestone during modern slavery raids BBC News, 16 May https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-44140333

4.22 The college cleaner no-one knew was a slave BBC News, 15 April https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43743579

4.11 Landlord Hargit Bariana guilty of modern day slavery offences BBC News, 16 May https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englandtyne-44140660

4.23 Gang leaders, who imprisoned teenager, beat her and forced her to conceal drugs inside her, jailed The Independent, 13 April https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/ modern-slavery-drugs-london-county-lines-gangsswansea-girl-teenage-jailed-a8303691.html

4.24 Indonesian woman ‘kept as virtual slave’ in Brighton returns home The Guardian, 12 April https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/apr/12/ indonesian-woman-kept-virtual-slave-brighton-returnshome 4.25 Undercover investigation reveals work exploitation BBC News, 8 April https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-43646570 4.26 Joseph Rooney ‘slavery victims’ were free to leave, court hears BBC News, 5 April https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englandlincolnshire-43659198

4.27 Paul Broadbent inquest: Anti-slavery chief took own life BBC News, 3 April https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-southyorkshire-43629835 4.28 ‘I used to be a slave’ BBC News, 1 April https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-43584898/iused-to-be-a-slave 4.29 Funding boost for human trafficking support groups BBC News, 1 April https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-43611683

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