Asked by: Baroness Bray of Coln (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answers of 30 April 2014, Official Report, column 717W and of 14 January 2014, Official Report, column 481W, on human trafficking: victim support schemes, for what reason the gender and location of each individual is not included in the information for February 2014; and if she will provide this information for future questions on the subject.
Answered by Karen Bradley
The requested information on the gender of potential victims and the regions in
which they were found (answer 30 April 2014 refers) was not withheld and is
provided in a table below.
The victim care contract does not require support providers to maintain any
form of formal contact with victims after the recovery and reflection period.
All support providers work with victims throughout their support period to help
them move on from the service. Through the National Referral Mechanism review
and the re-tender of the adult victims care contract, we are looking at what
more we can do to help victims recover and reintegrate effectively.
The table below contains the requested details of the 126 referrals in February
2014.
Asked by: Baroness Bray of Coln (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2014, Official Report, column 717W, on human trafficking: victim support schemes, how many of those referred were (a) men and (b) women; what steps are taken to ensure that after victims leave the shelter into which they have been placed by the Salvation Army they are not re-trafficked and do not contact their former traffickers; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Karen Bradley
The requested information on the gender of potential victims and the regions in
which they were found (answer 30 April 2014 refers) was not withheld and is
provided in a table below.
The victim care contract does not require support providers to maintain any
form of formal contact with victims after the recovery and reflection period.
All support providers work with victims throughout their support period to help
them move on from the service. Through the National Referral Mechanism review
and the re-tender of the adult victims care contract, we are looking at what
more we can do to help victims recover and reintegrate effectively.
The table below contains the requested details of the 126 referrals in February
2014.
Asked by: Baroness Bray of Coln (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria were used to select organisations or local authorities to pilot the advocacy scheme for trafficked children; how that scheme was commissioned; when such schemes will start in which location and for what duration; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Karen Bradley
The Modern Slavery Bill will enable us to strengthen our response to human trafficking and modern slavery for both adults and children. We announced in January our intention to trial specialist independent advocates for victims of child trafficking.
23 local authorities have agreed to participate in the trial: Greater Manchester including Manchester City, Stockport, Tameside, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Bolton, Wigan, Salford, Trafford; West Midlands including, Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton; Croydon; Derbyshire; Kent; Lancashire; Oxfordshire; and West Sussex.
These local authorities represent a wide demographic range as well as major transport hubs and asylum screening units. These areas also have the highest rates of trafficking referrals to the National Referral Mechanism or are areas where we are aware of a high number of trafficking investigations by law enforcement agencies.
We remain committed to trialing this approach. We are currently considering bids from a number of voluntary and community services organisations that were identified as potential providers of the advocacy service because of the particular expertise they hold. We will announce the outcome of the process in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Bray of Coln (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the nationality and gender was of each suspected victim of trafficking referred to the Trafficking Victim Support Scheme operated by the Salvation Army in February 2014; in which (a) region and (b) county each of the suspected victims was found; which agency referred each person to the scheme; in which town the shelter in which they were placed was for the relevant period; and what contact has been made with each victim to ensure they are not re-trafficked.
Answered by Karen Bradley
In February 2014, there were 126 referrals to the Government-funded support
service for adult victims of human trafficking in England and Wales
administered by the Salvation Army. In the interests of victim safety, only the
region in which the victim was encountered is provided, and not which town they
were placed in. Once an individual receives a Conclusive Grounds decision they
will be given tailored support to safely return home or integrate in the UK.
Once they exit the service, no formal mechanisms exist to maintain contact.