Question to the Home Office:

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.

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.

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.