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 Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinator.
Contents 1. Research, reports and journal articles 1.1 Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking first annual report 1.2 The Salvation Army Anti-Human Trafficking Report 2. Political and legislative 2.1 OSCE and C of E call for compensation of trafficking victims 2.2 Welsh Government proposes measures to protect adult victims of trafficking 2.3 Scottish Government announces measures to tackle human trafficking 2.4 JCHR inquiry into human rights of migrant young people 2.5 Parliamentary questions
4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13
3. Campaigns 3.1 Make trafficking a police priority 3.2 Freedom Sunday
4.14 4.15
4. In the news 4.1 Trafficking of children 4.2 Labour exploitation
4.16
Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking Northern Ireland Scotland Wales ‘Prisons and immigration inspectors demand action on delayed deportations’ ‘Three Slovakians found guilty of human trafficking’ ‘Sex offence guidelines reviewed’ ‘An investigation into the founding father of investigative journalism’ ‘Paying for sex: Women’s groups call for EU-wide ban’ ‘Ministers and officials accused of “last-minute” withdrawal from MPs’ hearing’ ‘High Wycombe sex abuse inquiry: Seven men in court’ ‘Will the Government support my move against modern-day slavery?’ ‘Human trafficking stunt to raise awareness in Oxford’ ‘Rise in “slavery” trafficking of homeless by gangs’
1. Research, reports and journal articles
2. Political and legislative
1.1 Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking First annual report launched, including an assessment of human trafficking in the UK, data on prosecutions and convictions and trends and emerging threats: http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/ cm84/8421/8421.asp
2.1 Compensation for victims, 11 October OSCE and Council of Europe call for European governments to compensate victims of trafficking through confiscation of trafficker assets: http://www.antislavery.org/english/press_and_news/ news_and_press_releases_2009/make_traffickers_pay_ say_osce_and_coe.aspx
1.2 The Salvation Army Anti-Human Trafficking Report: one year on Report which provides an overview of what the contract to deliver support services to human trafficking victims has achieved in its first year. This includes data about the number and profile of victims supported by the service and an overview of the services provided across England and Wales by The Salvation Army and its partners. http://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/Anti_Human_ Trafficking_One_Year_Report
2.2 Welsh Government proposes measures to protect adult victims of suspected abuse, 18 October Deputy Minister for Social Services and Children, Gwenda Thomas, announces proposals for ‘new powers to protect adults suspected of being victims of abuse’. 2.3 Scottish Government announces new measures to tackle human trafficking, 18 October Scottish Government announces a series of measures agreed at a summit on human trafficking, including a new statutory
This bulletin covers material produced during the period 29 September – 12 December 2012 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.
aggravation to make the perpetrators of human trafficking easier to prosecute, and awareness-raising initiatives and training amongst frontline professionals. 2.4 Joint Committee on Human Rights launches inquiry into human rights of unaccompanied migrant children and young people Inquiry launched with a particular focus on those young people who are seeking asylum or have been the victims of trafficking. Findings due to be released no later than Easter 2013. http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/ committees-a-z/joint-select/human-rights-committee/ news/human-rights-of-unaccompanied-migrantchildren/ 2.5 Parliamentary questions The following section, drawn from the Hansard Commons debates, covers responses to parliamentary questions asked by MPs.
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) published a Public Policy Statement for Prosecuting Cases of Human Trafficking in June 2011. This policy statement emphasises that the CPS considers organised human trafficking to be a very serious crime and prosecutors will do whatever possible to disrupt and combat trafficking, including bringing successful prosecutions. The policy statement explains the way in which the CPS deals with cases of human trafficking and the wide range of other crime associated with it. In addition, the statement is supported by more detailed legal guidance for CPS prosecutors providing up-to-date guidance on the range of criminal offences associated with trafficking, supporting trafficked victims and case management issues.
17 October Lords answers: Lord Patten to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the number of girls and women trafficked into the United Kingdom by gangs operating in Turkey.
22 October Commons answers: Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the value of funds confiscated from prosecuted traffickers was in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such funds was awarded to victims as compensation. Mr Jeremy Browne [holding answer 17 October 2012]: The value of confiscation orders enforced against those convicted for human trafficking offences in England and Wales in each of the last three years, as recorded on the Joint Asset Recovery Database, is as follows: 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
£146,734.06 £293,329.05 £184,645.12
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): The hidden nature of the trafficking trade and the fact that it is not always possible to confirm whether an individual has been trafficked means it is difficult to make an assessment. The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) was set up in 2009 to identify and support potential victims of human trafficking referred to it. Since 2009 two Turkish females have been referred. The data do not record whether they were trafficked by gangs operating in Turkey. All published NRM data are available on the UK Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) portion of the SOCA website: http://www.soca.gov.uk/about-soca/about-theukhtc/national-referral-mechanism/statistics. 3. Campaigns
It should be noted, however, that a human trafficker may also be charged and prosecuted for a different offence, such as prostitution or money laundering, which could incur a confiscation order.
3.1 Make trafficking a police priority Stop the Traffik campaign to raise awareness of trafficking around the elections of the Police Crime Commissioners: http://www.stopthetraffik.org/campaign/police
The proportion of such funds awarded to victims as compensation is not recorded centrally.
3.2 Freedom Sunday Call for churches and faith groups to ‘demonstrate compassion for those enslaved’ on Sunday 17 February 2013: http://www.stopthetraffik.org/campaign/ startfreedomsunday
Mr Robert Buckland (South Swindon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to improve health services for homeless people. Anna Soubry: We are taking steps to address the poor health outcomes experienced by the homeless and the difficulties that they, and other vulnerable groups, face in accessing some health services. For the first time, we have introduced legal duties on National Health Service commissioners to reduce inequalities in access to and outcomes from health services. In addition, we have developed an Inclusion Health programme, through which we are working with other government departments, the NHS and the third sector to tackle the poor health of people in vulnerable groups and to ensure everyone gets the care they need, regardless of their needs or circumstances. As part of this broad programme, we are looking at how to improve access to primary care services and to improve hospital discharge arrangements for the homeless. 18 October Commons answers:Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough): To ask the Attorney General, what his policy is on prosecutions in criminal cases relating to human trafficking.
4. In the News 4.1 Trafficking of children Articles documenting the experiences of younger victims of trafficking: ‘Child protection guidance is under threat’ Guardian, 9 November http://www.guardian.co.uk/social-carenetwork/2012/nov/09/child-protection-guidanceunder-threat?INTCMP=SRCH ‘Child protection system failing teenagers, MPs warn’ Guardian, 7 November http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/nov/07/child -protection-failing-teenagers-warning?INTCMP=SRCH ‘Sex trafficker jailed for smuggling Nigerian orphans into Britain’ Guardian, 29 October http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/oct/29/sextrafficker-jailed-nigerian-orphans?INTCMP=SRCH
‘Osezua Oselase used witchcraft on trafficked girls’ BBC, 26 October http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20096101 ‘More than half of all reported child abduction cases involve a stranger’ Guardian, 2 October http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/oct/02/childabduction-cases-stranger-research?INTCMP=SRCH 4.2 Labour exploitation A number of articles outlining cases of trafficking for labour exploitation ‘How gangmasters exploit Britain’s “on-tap” flexible workforce’ Guardian, 31 October http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct /31/gangmasters-exploit-flexibleworkforce?INTCMP=SRCH ‘Workers who collected Freedom Food chickens “were trafficked and beaten”’ Guardian, 29 October http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/oct/29/worker s-chickens-allegedly-trafficked-beaten?INTCMP=SRCH ‘The truth about trafficking: it’s not just about sexual exploitation’ Guardian, 24 October http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct /24/truth-about-trafficking-sexualexploitation?INTCMP=SRCH
4.4 Northern Ireland ‘New NI group to tackle human trafficking’ BBC, 18 October http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland19996577 ‘Lord Morrow says human trafficking rising in Northern Ireland’ BBC, 16 October http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland19969954 4.5 Scotland ‘Cuts threaten Scotland Yard’s anti-trafficking unit’ Guardian, 20 October http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/oct/20/cutsscotland-yard-anti-trafficking?INTCMP=SRCH ‘New human trafficking law to make prosecutions in Scotland easier’ BBC, 18 October http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotlandpolitics-19993687 ‘Summit to tackle human trafficking in Scotland’ BBC, 14 October http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland19969954
‘Kent trafficking probe: “Slave” worker arrest pair bailed’ BBC, 8 October http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent19876043
4.6 Wales
‘Business must do more to protect the world’s most vulnerable workers’ Guardian, 5 October http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainablebusiness/business-protect-vulnerable-workers-humanrights?INTCMP=SRCH
‘Human trafficking: Welsh ports “soft target” warning’ BBC, 2 December http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics20565930
‘Kent food workers held in “slave-like” conditions’ BBC, 5 October http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent19842821 4.3 Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking Media coverage of the launch of the first annual report of the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking ‘Trafficked and sold as a sex slave’ BBC, 18 October http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19993193 ‘Human trafficking to UK rising’ BBC, 18 October http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19984615 ‘Human trafficking to UK is rising’ Guardian, 18 October http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/oct/18/humantrafficking-uk-rising?INTCMP=SRCH ‘Human trafficking: “I never thought it could happen in this country”’ Guardian, 18 October http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/oct/18/humantrafficking-modern-day-slavery?INTCMP=SRCH
‘Wales anti-human trafficking chief’s “slavery” warning’ BBC, 2 December http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-20572740
‘Human trafficking: Welsh councils may breach rules’ BBC, 14 November http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-20332301 4.7 ‘Prisons and immigration inspectors demand action on delayed deportations’ Guardian, 12 December http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/dec/12/deporte es-detained-over-two-years?INTCMP=SRCH 4.8 ‘Three Slovakians found guilty of human trafficking’ BBC, 12 December http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-taysidecentral-20700438 4.9 ‘Sex offence guidelines reviewed’ BBC, 6 December http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_97750 00/9775981.stm 4.10 ‘An investigation into the founding father of investigative journalism’ Guardian, 5 December http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2012/ dec/05/investigative-journalism-irishindependent?INTCMP=SRCH
4.11 ‘Paying for sex: Women’s groups call for EU-wide ban’ BBC, 4 December http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20591726
4.12 ‘Ministers and officials accused of “last-minute” withdrawal from MPs’ hearing’ BBC, 27 November http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20508411
4.13 ‘High Wycombe sex abuse inquiry: Seven men in court’ BBC, 22 November http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucksherts-20450302
4.14 ‘Will the Government support my move against modern-day slavery?’ Guardian, 3 November http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/nov /03/modern-day-slavery?INTCMP=SRCH 4.15 ‘Human trafficking stunt to raise awareness in Oxford’ BBC, 16 October http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire20002518 4.16 ‘Rise in “slavery” trafficking of homeless by gangs’ The Observer, 30 September http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2012/sep/30 /slavery-homeless-trafficking-gangs?INTCMP=SRCH
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