Four members of an organised crime group have been convicted of trafficking offences at the High Court in Glasgow. Three men and one woman convicted yesterday marked the conclusion of a five-year-long investigation undertaken by Police Scotland. Continue reading Human trafficking gang convicted following five year operation
The number of potential victims of trafficking and modern slavery reported to the authorities has risen by more than 80 per cent in two years, according to figures released by the National Crime Agency today.
The National Referral Mechanism end of year summary (648 KB) shows that in 2018 6993 potential victims were referred into the system, up from 5142 in 2017, and 3804 in 2016.
Potential victims from 130 different countries were identified, and for the second consecutive year British citizens made up the largest nationality (1,625), with Albanians (947) and Vietnamese (702) second and third.
The number of British citizens reported was almost double the number from 2017, while the numbers of minors referred increased by 48 per cent. Both increases were driven by the numbers referred for labour exploitation, which includes those exploited for criminal purposes by ‘County Lines’ gangs.
Overall those referred in the labour exploitation category made up more than half of the total number.
NCA Deputy Director Roy McComb said: “The increase is undoubtedly the result of greater awareness, understanding and reporting of modern slavery and that is something to be welcomed.
“However, the more we look the more we find, and it is likely these figures represent only a snapshot of the true scale of slavery and trafficking in the UK.
“Of particular concern is the increase in referrals made for ‘county lines’ type exploitation. These are often vulnerable individuals – often children – who are exploited by criminal gangs for the purposes of drug trafficking.
“Our understanding of the threat is much greater than it was a few years ago, and modern slavery remains a high priority for law enforcement, with around 1,500 criminal investigations currently live in the UK.
“But we cannot stop modern slavery alone, we need support and assistance from across the public and private sectors, NGOs and most of all the public themselves.”
The National Referral Mechanism is a framework for identifying victims of modern slavery or human trafficking and ensuring they receive the appropriate support. It is also the mechanism through which data is collected about victims, helping to build a clearer picture about the scope of the threat.
Under the existing NRM process potential victims are referred by ‘first responders’, including police, public bodies and a number of specified NGOs to one of two competent authorities, the NCA’s Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Unit for EEA nationals, and the Home Office for non-EEA cases, to make a decision about their status.
From 29 April 2019 this will change when the Home Office becomes the single competent authority for dealing with referrals. This is part of a package of reforms to the NRM announced by the government in October 2017 to improve identification of and support for victims of modern slavery.
The International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt has announced that UK aid will help over 500,000 vulnerable men, women and children around the world. Continue reading UK aid to help over half a million people at risk of slavery
Increasing number of potential victims being identified in Scotland
Human trafficking may be closer than most Scots think, a new awareness campaign has revealed. For the first time, the locations where victims of human trafficking have been identified over the last five years have been pinpointed to challenge perceptions that the crime is confined to Scotland’s major towns and cities. Continue reading Modern slavery: it could be closer than you think …
Charities and campaigners at the forefront of efforts to end modern slavery in the UK and overseas took part in a roundtable hosted by the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, and the UK’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Kevin Hyland on Monday.
The meeting, also attended by Minister for Vulnerability, Safeguarding and Countering Extremism, Sarah Newton, highlighted the UK’s commitment to ending slavery and to set out new measures and support announced by the Prime Minister including:
The new support comes one year on from the introduction of the Modern Slavery Act which increased penalties for offenders, protected victims from criminalisation, and created the role of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner.
As well as the new measures announced, an independent report by barrister Caroline Haughey highlights good progress in the first year of the act – 289 modern slavery offences were prosecuted in 2015 and there was a 40% rise in the number of victims referred for support – and identifies opportunities to do more.
Following the roundtable, the Home Secretary had the opportunity to meet a survivor of modern slavery: ‘J’ who was trafficked from Asia to the UK and held for 2 years by her captors.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: “While we can never truly understand the suffering experienced by victims of modern slavery, we will continue to take action to end this abhorrent crime.
I will work with the Prime Minister and all those campaigners and charities at the roundtable to ensure this government delivers for every victim both here and overseas. The harrowing experiences of victims like J will only intensify the government’s actions to end modern slavery.”
Those charities that attended the roundtable included Barnados, the Salvation Army, Medaille Trust, Human Trafficking Foundation, Anti-Slavery International, Hestia and End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT UK).
J decided to come to the UK to study and to have a better future and was exploited by a woman from her own community.
Once in London, J wanted to improve her language skills and decided to do so by volunteering in a store-café owned by a woman from her own community within London. J had met this woman at the temple, and she trusted her dearly. For 2 years she was forced to work for 14 hours a day with only 2 toilet breaks and no lunch or dinner time. She was not paid and was forced to miss days at college in order to staff the store.
The owner of the store used to mistreat her and the other ‘employees’, threatening them and their families to ensure that they did not report it to the police. Furthermore, the lady withheld the use of heating during the winter and did not allow the ‘employees’ to eat or drink during ‘working’ hours.
In August 2014, a police officer from the British Transport Police managed to befriend J. The police referred the case to the Salvation Army, who then referred the case to Hestia. J was then welcomed into Hestia’s safe-house accommodation and feels she has finally found some peace.
The Prime Minister has written an article explaining how her government will lead the way in defeating modern slavery.
A year ago the Modern Slavery Act that I brought forward as Home Secretary came into force. Continue reading PM Theresa May: Defeating modern slavery
Home Office shines light on criminals seeking to exploit homeless people this Christmas
The Home Office has joined forces with charities across the country to raise awareness of criminals preying on the homeless and vulnerable this Christmas.
Criminals often target vulnerable individuals, particularly at Christmas, with false promises of work and accommodation. There have been numerous occasions where this has led to people being trafficked, forced into labour and a life of servitude.
The Minister for Modern Slavery and Organised Crime Karen Bradley has written to charities and shelters that provide support to homeless people across the country about this horrific crime.
Posters featuring a powerful image from the Home Office’s hard-hitting television advert have been sent to shelters around the UK, alerting homeless people to the risks of modern slavery and directing them to the dedicated helpline number. Advice has also been provided to shelter staff on what to do if they suspect modern slavery.
Minister for Modern Slavery and Organised Crime Karen Bradley said: “Modern slavery is taking place across the UK, often out of sight – in shops, fields, building sites and behind the curtains of houses on ordinary streets.
“But we also know of some horrific cases where victims have been approached when they are at their most vulnerable – looking for work and living on the streets.
“That is why we are taking action on a number of fronts. We have brought forward a Modern Slavery Bill, the first of its kind in Europe, and published a wide-ranging strategy to tackle this crime.
“If we are to abolish it, everyone needs to play a part, at local as well as national level, and to raise awareness of the issues involved.”
The Home Office launched a national campaign this year, the first of its kind in the UK, to encourage the public to identify the signs of modern slavery and report it by calling the new national helpline.
The Modern Slavery Bill will give law enforcement the tools to stamp out modern slavery. It will ensure perpetrators receive suitably severe sentences for these appalling crimes; introduce an Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner; enhance support and protection for victims; and encourage businesses to do more to eliminate slavery from their global supply chains.
Legislation is only part of the answer. The new Modern Slavery Strategy sets out a cross-government approach, detailing the actions that we expect from government departments, agencies and partners in the UK and, importantly, internationally.
If you think you work with someone who may be a victim of modern slavery, call 0800 0121 700 or visit modernslavery.co.uk
