Slavery

(asked on 19th June 2019) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what happens to (a) adult and (b) child victims of modern slavery after they have been referred to the National Referral Mechanism for the mandatory 45 days.


Answered by
Victoria Atkins Portrait
Victoria Atkins
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
This question was answered on 8th July 2019

The National Referral Mechanism is our system for identifying and providing access to support for suspected victims.

The support for adult victims is provided through a Government-funded support service, the Victim Care Contract (VCC), which gives all adult victims in England and Wales a tailored and specialised package of care and support which includes, but is not limited to, accommodation, financial support, counselling, access to mental, physical and dental health services, and signposting to legal support.

Currently all potential victims of modern slavery who receive a positive Reasonable Grounds (RG) decision in the NRM are able to access a minimum of 45-days of support delivered through the VCC during their recovery and reflection period. This support is provided until the potential victim receives a Conclusive Grounds (CG) decision. This will be at least 45 days after they enter support but is often longer.

After the recovery and reflection period, victims who receive a positive CG decision are currently able to access continuing move-on support. Previously this support was provided for 45 days, but the Home Office is in the process of reviewing this policy.

Those who receive a negative decision are able to access a further 9 days of move-on support.

Child victims of modern slavery are supported by local authorities under existing statutory child protection arrangements. In addition, Section 48 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, makes provisions for Independent Child Trafficking Advocates (ICTAs). ICTAs are an independent source of advice for trafficked children and somebody who can speak up on their behalf. We have successfully rolled out ICTAs to one third of all local authorities in England and Wales and the Government remains committed to rolling ICTAs out nationally.

The Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act led by Frank Field, Bar-oness Butler-Sloss and Maria Miller has recently considered Section 48 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, which makes provision for ICTAs. The Review’s final report can be found https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-the-modern-slavery-act-final-report

The Government is currently carefully considering the recommendations for ICTAs for national roll out.

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