• Police Force’s Care for Modern Slavery Victims Found Lacking

A damning report published yesterday by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has found that police forces are failing to identify crimes of modern day slavery and provide victims with adequate protection.

The report states that the standard of investigations and the level of care provided to victims is ‘highly inconsistent’ and in some forces ‘unacceptable’. There were even reports of many police officers believing that these crimes were just not an issue in their area. This is contrary to recent reports on Modern Slavery that point to the crime being an epidemic that it is happening across the UK.

The National Crime Agency estimates that there are currently 10,000 – 13,000 victims trapped in modern slavery in the UK currently, although they have recently stated that this number is very likely just to be the tip of the iceberg.

Officers were found to have limited understanding of the statutory defence introduced by the Modern Slavery Act which protects victims from being punished for crimes they are forced to commit by their traffickers. This can result in victims being viewed solely as suspected criminals rather than being treated as possible victims, and end up being prosecuted instead of given the support they need.

CARE’s Senior Policy Officer for Human Trafficking, Louise Gleich

“It is particularly concerning to read the report’s conclusions that low awareness and poor attitudes to trafficking and modern day slavery among police officers may be limiting opportunities to gather intelligence about the crime. This will ultimately lead to victims being stuck in a cycle of exploitation.”

“The police have a crucial role to play not only in bringing traffickers to justice but also in connecting victims to support services since they are often the first to encounter victims.”

“The report clearly shows that there is inadequate knowledge and action by police forces in helping victims access support. A measure that would significantly improve this would be if support for modern slavery victims was enshrined in law, making it more likely that the police would be aware of these entitlement and their responsibilities too.”

“In the House of Lords there is a currently a Bill which proposes guaranteed support in law for modern slavery victims. This would address the shortfall mentioned in this report and go a long way in helping victims of modern slavery to have the time needed to process their trauma in safe environment and begin the process of reintegrating back into society.”

“CARE therefore urges the government to get behind Lord McColl’s Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill so that we can positively move forwards on this issue by placing victims’ needs at the heart of the issue and making sure that they are fully supported, by the police force and by the law”.

Ends

Notes to the editor:

For more information please contact Rachael Adams on 020 7227 4731 / 07851 153693 or rachael.adams@care.org.uk

A link to the report: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/wp-content/uploads/stolen-freedom-the-policing-response-to-modern-slavery-and-human-trafficking.pdf

For more information on Lord McColl’s Bill: https://care.org.uk/news/latest-news/house-lords-urges-greater-support-victims-trafficking