Committee publishes Ministers’ answers on tackling modern slavery

·        Minister admits that there were only 113 convictions for modern slavery offences last year

·        Government cannot tell how many freed slaves are then trapped back into slavery

The Work and Pensions Committee has today published a detailed letter (attached) from Sarah Newton, Minister for Vulnerability, Safeguarding and Countering Extremism at the Home Office, in response to questions posed to her and Damian Hinds, Minister for Employment at the DWP, in their recent appearance before the Committee setting out the impact of Government measures to tackle modern slavery.  The Committee is expected to publish its report on modern slavery in late March. 

The letter sets out the Government’s approach to prosecuting perpetrators of modern slavery, the immigration status of victims and how victims are both identified and supported. In 2015 there were 3,266 referrals to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM)  -  the gateway to victim support - but only 113 convictions for modern slavery offences. The Committee has heard evidence that prosecutions and victim protection should not be seen as distinct concerns, not least because supporting victims to give evidence against their abusers can result in additional prosecutions.

The response also explains that the NRM does not identify where victims of slavery have been re-trafficked. The Minister acknowledges that understanding when and how re-trafficking has occurred is important to strengthening victim support and the response to modern slavery. In addition, the Committee asked the Minister for the number of EEA/EU recognised victims of modern slavery who had applied for Discretionary leave to remain but had been refused. This data has not been supplied.

Rt Hon Frank Field MP, Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, said:

“The Government, and the Prime Minister in particular, should be praised wholeheartedly for the progress that has been made in combatting this most heinous crime. It is clear, however, that there is still much work to be done in prosecuting abusers and protecting their victims. I am particularly disappointed that the official recording system cannot monitor where the same slaves have been trafficked on multiple occasions.

“Over the coming weeks the Committee will be considering this correspondence alongside the wealth of other evidence we have received – not least from victims – in determining our recommendations for policy change.”