Shadow Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has called on the Government to opt- in to the proposed EU Directive on Trafficking. The UK is one of only two EU member states which have chosen not to opt-in.

The proposed Directive takes significant steps forward in the fight against exploitation, including measures on non prosecution of victims, support to those who have been exploited, greater prosecution powers and special protection measures for children.

Yvette Cooper said “It’s appalling that in the 21st century, slavery still exists. Many vulnerable people all around the world are still exploited and made to suffer at the hands of criminal gangs. That’s why the government must back Europe wide action against trafficking.”

Rachel Davies, Prostitution and Trafficking Officer for CARE said “This proposed Directive is a vital step forward in the movement to end the exploitation of people in the UK. It is imperative that the Government opts-in, particularly in light of the commitment to tackle trafficking in the Coalition agreement published in May.”

Further Information

Although the UK is already compliant with several sections of the Directive there are still some vital areas that we are not compliant with and where the Directive would significantly add to existing legislation and practice:

Article 2 – widens the current definition of trafficking to include forced begging. There have been instances of forced begging in the UK so it is vital that we recognise and address this.

Article 7 – provides for the possibility of not prosecuting victims of trafficking. Although there is CPS guidance on this, people in the UK who have been forced to commit crimes under duress are still being prosecuted.

Article 9 – gives greater jurisdiction over prosecuting those who exploit others. It would give the UK powers to prosecute a British national for trafficking another person even if the offence did not take place in the UK. It would also give the UK the option to prosecute in a case where a British person was being trafficked through other countries in Europe.

Article 10 – ensures that support and assistance is given to those who have been trafficked. The Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (which the UK has ratified) stipulates that emergency medical care should be given to victims once they have received ‘reasonable grounds’ status. However, necessary medical care is only given once the person’s victim status has been finally confirmed. Article 10 ensures that all necessary medical assistance is granted as soon as the competent authority has an indication that the person may have been trafficked.

Articles 12 – 14 – puts forward specific measures to protect children. A recent UK report showed that 64% of identified child victims of trafficking have gone missing from social services and have never been found. More needs to be done to ensure that vulnerable children do not fall back into the hands of traffickers.

Article 16 – ensures that an independent body will be appointed to monitor Government policies and practices on human trafficking.