Guidance published for first responders to report modern slavery
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The Home Office has published guidance on how first responders can
report cases of modern slavery and human trafficking in the UK.
Contents Who are First Responders How to report modern slavery
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The Home Office has published guidance on how first responders can report cases of modern slavery and human trafficking in the UK. ContentsFirst Responders can use the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) to:
The government assesses every new NRM case to determine if the person has been a victim of modern slavery. Who are First RespondersFirst Responders work for designated organisations and help identify and support potential victims of modern slavery. You can still report modern slavery if you’re not a First Responder. Call the modern slavery helpline on 0800 0121 700 or report it online. If you are unsure, you should check what the referral pathway is in your organisation. How to report modern slaveryThere are currently two ways you can report modern slavery to the UK government. OnlineYou will need to complete the online report in one go as you cannot save your progress. If you won’t have access to a computer when you interview a potential victim, you can print the NRM prompt sheet. The prompt sheet highlights the questions you must ask and explains the type of information a report needs. You can then complete the online form at a later stage using your notes from the prompt sheet. Private betaThe online service is currently in ‘private beta’. This means you’re looking at the first version of it. Something in ‘private beta’ isn’t open to everyone or may not work for everyone. This allows the service to be tested and improved before it’s released to more people. Making a reportReferring a potential victim can:
You can request emergency housing and medical care immediately. Other benefits will only be given once their status as a potential victim has been confirmed. All potential victims in the UK are entitled to support. Potential child victimsIf you think the potential victim is under 18, you must always refer them to the NRM. You will first need to complete a child welfare services form and send it to the relevant local authority. Once the local authority knows about the potential child victim, you can start their NRM referral. The local authority will receive a notification once you complete it. What happens nextThis depends on whether the potential victim is a child or an adult. If they are a child, you must refer their case to the NRM – only potential adult victims can choose whether to refer their case. If they are an adult, you will need to explain the differences between referring their case to the NRM or choosing not to. If a potential victim refers their caseBy referring their case, the potential victim will get access to support and a formal decision. To help make a formal decision, their personal information is shared with organisations such as the police and Home Office. Decisions are made in two stages:
Stage 1A caseworker will look at the potential victim’s case within 5 working days and decide if there are Reasonable Grounds to believe they are a victim. Cases that do not meet the criteria will be closed at this stage unless there’s a request for a reconsideration. No further accommodation or support will be available through the NRM. Stage 2If there are Reasonable Grounds, the case will be investigated in more detail before deciding if there are Conclusive Grounds. A Conclusive Grounds decision will not be made until after 45 calendar days. This is to allow the potential victim a period of recovery. They are eligible for support through the NRM during this time. If Conclusive Grounds decision is positiveThe potential victim will receive support for a further 45 calendar days so they can transition into other services. If the Conclusive Grounds decision is negativeThe potential victim will receive support for 9 working days. They can ask for a reconsideration during this period. Ask for a reconsiderationSupport providers and First Responders can ask for the decision to be reconsidered if:
A reconsideration will only happen if there are grounds for one – it is not a formal right. If a potential victim does not refer their caseThe potential victim will not receive support through the NRM or get a formal decision. You will still need to complete the online referral (or the MS1 form if you are making a paper report) Designated organisations in England and Wales have a Duty to Notify (DtN) the Home Office when they encounter a potential victim of modern slavery. A DtN is also sent to the police to help them:
You can only raise a DtN in England and Wales – it is not available in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The potential victim’s personal information will not be shared with anyone, unless they agree to let the police contact them. |