Human Trafficking

Home Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 7 Feb 2023 Closed: 24 May 2024 Parliament page
In this inquiry, launched in February 2023, the Home Affairs Committee is assessing the scale of human trafficking in the UK and the forms it takes. It also investigates whether Government policy, legislation and the criminal justice system can be improved to prevent human trafficking, prosecute perpetrators and protect victims. … Read more
37 Recommendations
66 Conclusions
1 Report
6 Oral sessions
3 Letters
6 Events
Activity timeline 17 events
15 May
2024
Correspondence
13 Mar
2024
Correspondence
22 Feb
2024
Report published
8 Dec
2023
Report published
19 Jul
2023
Oral evidence
19 Jul
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
12 Jul
2023
Correspondence
5 Jul
2023
Oral evidence
5 Jul
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
21 Jun
2023
Oral evidence
21 Jun
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
7 Jun
2023
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
19 Jul 2023
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Andrew Patrick · Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office Joanna West · Home Office Matthew Bligh · Home Office Miss Sarah Dines · Home Office Rebecca Wyse · Home Office
5 Jul 2023
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Assistant Chief Constable Jim Pearce · National Police Chiefs' Council Caroline Haughey OBE KC · Furnival Chambers Lynette Woodrow · Crown Prosecution Service Rob Jones CBE · National Crime Agency Stuart Peall · Lancashire Police
21 Jun 2023
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Allyson Davies · Barnard's National Counter Trafficking Service Danny Bayraktarova · Wilson Solicitors LLP Elaine Bass · Home Office James Fookes · Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group (ATMG) Laura Durán · ECPAT UK Major Kathy Betteridge · Salvation Army Siobhan Jolliffe · Home Office
7 Jun 2023
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Dr. Ben Brewster · Rights Lab, University of Nottingham Neelam Patankar · Digital Ventures Professor Teela Sanders · University of Leicester Rhoda Grant · Scottish Parliament
10 May 2023
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Elysia McCaffrey · Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) Kate Roberts · Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX) Ruth Breslin · The Sexual Exploitation Research Programme (SERP) Sylvia Walby · Royal Holloway, University of London Tatiana Gren-Jardan · Joint Modern Slavery Policy Unit Justice and Care and Centre for Social Justice
19 Apr 2023
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Professor Dame Sara Thornton · The Rights Lab, University of Nottingham The Rt Hon. the Baroness Butler-Sloss GBE
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - Human trafficking HC 124 8 Dec 2023 103 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
17 results
Clear
9 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Human trafficking
Urgently resume publication of annual human trafficking reports, including victim support details.
The Home Office should urgently resume publication of its annual reports on human trafficking. It should publish a Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery annual report by March 2024 to include key outputs and Home Office policies that are in development … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation and commits to resuming publication of an Annual Report on Modern Slavery this year to outline its strategic approach and monitor ongoing work.
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16 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Human trafficking
Set out how Modern Slavery Strategy will combat demand for sexual exploitation.
The Government’s Modern Slavery Strategy, which we have recommended be updated, must set out how the Government will combat the demand for sexual exploitation created by individuals who pay for sex.
Government Response
The government states it shares the Committee's focus on a strategy and references the existing Modern Slavery Strategy 2014 and Modern Slavery Act 2015, but does not commit to updating the strategy to specifically combat the demand for sexual exploitation.
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17 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Human trafficking
Consider including strategy for reducing demand for sexual exploitation in Commissioner's Strategic Plan.
The new Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner should actively consider including a strategy for reducing demand for sexual exploitation in the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Strategic Plan.
Government Response
The government shares the committee's focus but states that the UK's response to modern slavery is already underpinned by the Modern Slavery Strategy 2014 and the Modern Slavery Act 2015, rather than committing the IASC to a new specific consideration.
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43 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Human trafficking
Police forces successfully investigate modern slavery using evidence-led approaches.
Some police forces have had success in investigating and charging modern slavery and human trafficking cases under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 using evidence-led investigations.
Government Response
The government affirms that law enforcement activity since the Modern Slavery Act 2015 has increased investigations and convictions, and it remains committed to strengthening the response to modern slavery through existing priorities and strategies.
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44 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Human trafficking
Evidence-led prosecution guidance for modern slavery cases remains insufficient.
There is an evidence-led mindset in relation to investigating domestic abuse which is promoted by the UK’s College of Policing but which does not seem to be the case for modern slavery and human trafficking (MSHT): no equivalent evidence-led prosecution … Read more
Government Response
The government highlights the dedicated Modern Slavery Unit within the Crown Prosecution Service and the training provided by the College of Policing, suggesting that evidence-led prosecution guidance for MSHT already exists.
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50 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Human trafficking
Modern slavery prosecution and conviction rates remain unacceptably low despite legislation.
Despite legislative provisions being in place since 2015, prosecution and convictions rates are still comparatively low across the UK. This is unacceptable.
Government Response
The government acknowledges concern over low prosecution rates and highlights existing measures, such as tightening legislation through the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 and updating guidance, to strengthen the criminal justice response.
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51 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Human trafficking
Create and supply additional training for criminal justice practitioners on human trafficking prosecution.
To increase the number of prosecutions, the Government must create and supply additional training for criminal justice practitioners on identifying victims and prosecuting human traffickers.
Government Response
The government states that proficiency in 'evidence-led' investigations is already fully covered and tested in the modern slavery investigator training course on the College of Policing curriculum.
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55 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Human trafficking
Make early assessments of s45 cases in trafficking-connected areas to identify indicators
Law enforcement should make early assessments of s45 cases in areas that are known to be connected to human trafficking (for example, cannabis cultivation) to identify any indicators of trafficking and then fully investigate where an offence is apparent or … Read more
Government Response
The government states that existing Modern Slavery Statutory Guidance already provides guidance on indicators of modern slavery, including indicators relevant to victims of trafficking who are compelled to commit offences, and that they continue to work with law enforcement partners.
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56 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Human trafficking
Ensure broad application of non-punishment for compelled offences, without burden of proof hindering
In line with the recommendations on s45 of the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Being’s third UK report, the Government should: a) ensure that the non-punishment provision can be applied to all offences … Read more
Government Response
The government states that existing legislation (Section 45 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015) and associated guidance already address the recommendation.
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62 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Human trafficking
Reduce National Referral Mechanism decision-making time and clear backlog by June 2024
We recommend that the Home Office significantly reduces the number of days taken to make National Referral Mechanism decisions and clears the backlog of National Referral Mechanism decisions. It should aim for the target timeframe outlined in the Modern Slavery … Read more
Government Response
The government has accepted the recommendation to reduce NRM decision times and clear the backlog, stating they have significantly increased staff by around 200 and implemented new initiatives to boost productivity.
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69 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Human trafficking
Develop and maintain nationwide training programme for all First Responder Organisations.
We recommend that the Home Office develops and maintains a nationwide training programme for both statutory and non-statutory First Responder Organisations. This training should include identifying victims and recognising indicators of human Human trafficking 79 trafficking; gathering information on what … Read more
Government Response
The government has accepted the recommendation to develop training for First Responder Organisations, stating it has produced e-learning modules and is developing an online Hub and a First Responder Toolkit.
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78 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Human trafficking
Shortage of appropriate safe housing for trafficking victims, especially vulnerable children transitioning to adulthood.
There is a shortage of appropriate safe housing for victims of human trafficking whilst they are within the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract. Accommodation provision varies significantly for children after referral to the National Referral Mechanism, and children are particularly … Read more
Government Response
The government stated it is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation through the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC), which manages its provision on a needs-basis and is monitored by the Home Office, implying the current system is sufficient.
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82 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Human trafficking
Provide victims of trafficking with earlier, better legal aid, including currently out-of-scope areas.
We recommend that the Government provides victims of human trafficking with earlier and better access to legal aid. This must include the following areas that are currently ‘out of scope’: pre-NRM immigration advice; advice on identification as a victim of … Read more
Government Response
The government stated it is committed to victims engaging with the justice system and outlined existing legal aid provisions available after a positive Reasonable or Conclusive Grounds decision, but did not commit to providing earlier access or expanding legal aid to the specified 'out of scope' areas.
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86 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Human trafficking
Formalise and clarify local authority duties to support slavery and trafficking victims post-NRM exit.
We support Recommendation 24 of the Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and urge the Government to formalise and clarify the duties of local authority agencies to support victims of slavery and trafficking once they have left the … Read more
Government Response
The government stated that existing homelessness legislation and local authority powers already enable support and housing priority for victims, and therefore did not commit to formalising and clarifying specific duties for local authorities beyond current provisions.
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89 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Human trafficking
National Referral Mechanism deemed inappropriate for children due to inconsistent support and fragmented approach.
The National Referral Mechanism is not appropriate for children. The support is not defined as it is for adults, universally available or applied consistently. There is an overall lack of a joined-up approach across the National Referral Mechanism, child welfare … Read more
Government Response
The government asserted that children referred to the NRM are supported by local authorities under existing child protection procedures and the Children Act 2004, supplemented by Independent Child Trafficking Guardians, implying the current system is appropriate and joined-up.
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95 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Human trafficking
Inconsistent safeguarding transition pathways for child victims turning eighteen with complex needs.
There is wide variation among local authorities in the transition pathways from child to adult safeguarding services. Guidance exists for child victims and for adult 82 Human trafficking victims, but it does not adequately take account of child victims who … Read more
Government Response
The government states that children are supported by local authorities and Independent Child Trafficking Guardians (ICTGs), which plan in advance for transitions for 18-year-olds as set out in existing guidance, implying current provisions address the issue.
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101 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Human trafficking
Secure more appropriate accommodation with urgency for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
Clearly it is not appropriate to accommodate children in hotels, particularly unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. The Government needs to show greater urgency in securing more appropriate accommodation, that is suitable for the needs of children, notwithstanding the need to keep families … Read more
Government Response
The government accepted the recommendation, stating that it agrees local authority care is best and has now closed all hotels for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children by January 2024, securing more appropriate accommodation.
Home Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 103 of 37 classified
Accepted 17
Accepted in Part 6
Acknowledged 12
Deferred 46
Not Addressed 7
Rejected 15
Total 37 recs + 66 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
15 May 2024 To committee Letter from the Home Secretary, regarding the Government’s Response to the Human Trafficking report, dated 2 May 2024
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13 Mar 2024 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Home Secretary regarding the Government’s Response to the Human Trafficking inquiry, dated 7 March 2024
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12 Jul 2023 From committee Letter to the Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire on Adult Services Websites (ASWs), dated 5 July 2023
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