Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking – resources for practitioners

There is a duty on public authorities to notify the Home Office where modern slavery is encountered – there are two routes to reporting:

• National Referral Mechanism (NRM) form – for any child who has experienced modern slavery and any adult who gives their consent to be identified
  • emailed to nrm@nca.x.gsi.gov.uk  OR
• MS1 form – if an adult has chosen to remain anonymous a MS1 form should be completed
  • emailed to dutytonotify@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk.

This poster gives a simple explanation of the notification process.

The Home Office Modern Slavery collection brings together documents and promotional material related to the government’s work to end modern slavery and can be found on their website at www.gov.uk/modern-slavery

The Modern Day Slavery government strategy builds on and adapts the framework that has been successfully implemented in both our serious and organised crime and counter terrorism strategies – find this on the  Home Office website at www.gov.uk/uploads (PDF) or  at www.gov.uk/modern-slavery-strategy

It has four components:

1. Pursue: prosecuting and disrupting individuals and groups responsible for modern slavery.
2. Prevent: preventing people from engaging in modern slavery.
3. Protect: strengthening safeguards against modern slavery by protecting vulnerable people from exploitation and increasing awareness and resilience against this crime.
4. Prepare: reducing the harm causes by modern slavery through improved victim identification and enhanced support and protection.

The Home Office has published new research to establish a better understanding of the scale of modern slavery in the UK – find out more on their website at www.gov.uk/modern-slavery

The multi-agency MSP Modern Slavery Strategy (republished) has been endorsed by the Partnership.

This strategy summarises the details of modern slavery and human trafficking and provides information on resources and our overall vision, governance and priorities. It is primarily aimed at organisations who are delivering services and supporting or commissioning those to deliver services, however awareness raising among citizens and communities is vital if we are to truly to raise awareness of these hidden harms.

The strategy is very much about taking action and the role we can all play in helping to raise the profile of these issues and taking action to identify when modern slavery and human trafficking is taking place. It is about appropriate referrals and support to individuals. The focus is on safeguarding and taking a strengths based approach with those caught up in this and prosecuting those who are perpetuating this activity.

Further local guidance in relation to children and modern slavery can be found in the GMSP procedures.

General awareness raising resources
We have uploaded a briefing, leaflet and poster produced by the Modern Slavery helpline which can be used to raise awareness:

• Modern slavery briefing May 2017
• Modern slavery factsheet May 2017
• Modern slavery poster May 2017

We have also published a 7 minute briefing about modern slavery.

Home Office guide: raising awareness of modern slavery
This modern slavery awareness booklet provides an up-to-date, easy to read resource setting out some of the key facts about modern slavery. It may help inform staff as part of a wider awareness raising programme. Find the booklet on the website at www.gov.uk/government/modern-slavery-awareness-booklet

Topics covered include:

• the definition of modern slavery and the prevalent types in the UK
• spotting the signs of modern slavery
• victims and barriers to reporting.

To supplement this, Home Office research ‘A typology of modern slavery offences in the UK’ has broken down the broad categories of modern slavery into 17 distinct types of offences identified in the UK. A more in-depth understanding of the different ways the offence manifests itself can be crucial for staff involved in developing tool-kits for front-line staff or the operational response for their organisation.

Find the research on the website at www.gov.uk/government/a-typology-of-modern-slavery-offences-in-the-uk

Modern slavery training
This government resource is designed to share examples of training products available to public sector professionals and other individuals that might come across victims to help raise awareness, better spot the signs and increase confidence in reporting modern slavery when potential cases are encountered.

Increased awareness and reporting helps law enforcement to tackle the perpetrators of modern slavery as well as protecting victims.

The resource contains basic awareness raising materials. For many professionals more advanced or bespoke training will be appropriate and the materials here are not intended to be the extent of the training required by any sector.

• Find the resource at www.gov.uk/modern-slavery-training-resource-page

If you have documents or material you would like to be included in this resource you can email the ModernSlaveryUnit_DL@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk.

Training for public sector professionals
Whilst many professionals will need training specific to their role (and more information by sector is below) there are some awareness raising materials that will provide a basic level of understanding for all professionals. Even staff that may only rarely be in situations where they might come across modern slavery can benefit from a basic understanding of what to look for.

Videos:

• The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) has produced a range of videos on how to spot the signs of modern slavery, methods used by traffickers to exploit their victims, and victims accounts
  • these are available on their website at www.gla.gov.uk/glaa-videos
• The Independent Anti Slavery Commissioner (IASC) has produced a range of videos by sector on spotting the signs of modern slavery, which may be informative for any public sector worker
  • these are available on their website at www.antislaverycommissioner.co.uk/resources

e-learning:

• The charity ECPAT UK, in conjunction with West Yorkshire Police and other partner agencies, has produced a 2 to 3 hour in depth e-learning package that covers both adult and child trafficking, and is suitable for any public sector organisation. The package can be accessed for a fee at www.virtual-college.co.uk
• If you are an Independent Advocate for children and young people, or a Border Force Safeguarding and Modern Slavery Officer, you can access this training for free. Please contact childtrafficking@homeoffice.gov.uk to access this training free of charge.

Leaflets:

• Section 2 of the Home Office guide provides an overview of the main facts on modern slavery and how to spot the signs.
• Posters and other promotional material, some in multiple languages aimed at victims or communities with a high prevalence of victims, are available in the modern slavery collection
• the Modern Slavery Helpline website has resources for front-line professionals on its website at www.modernslaveryhelpline.org/frontline-professionals/resources

Police and other law enforcement:

• e-learning for police officers can be accessed through the ENCALT website.
• the Independent Anti Slavery Commissioner (IASC) has produced a number of videos for emergency services staff on spotting the signs of modern slavery;
  • these are  available on their website at www.antislaverycommissioner.co.uk/resources

Local authorities

• The Independent Anti Slavery Commissioner (IASC) has produced a video for all local authority staff on spotting the signs of modern slavery
  • the video is available on their website at  www.antislaverycommissioner.co.uk/resources.
• South East England councils have produced a brief film aimed at stimulating the professional curiosity of public sector workers to spot and report signs of modern slavery in their everyday work
  • the film is supported by accompanying notes, offering guidance on how local authorities could use the film for staff training to raise awareness of slavery
  • the film can be viewed or download from the website www.secouncils.gov.uk/modern-slavery
• The Local Government Association (LGA) have published Modern slavery: a council guide which is available to download on their website at local.gov.uk/modern-slavery-council-guide
  • as well as providing an overview of modern slavery and the forms it takes, the guidance offers a detailed methodology for councils to deploy in identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery.

Health
The government’s approach is focused on ensuring all healthcare staff are able to identify individuals who may be victims of trafficking, and to respond in an appropriate manner. This includes understanding ways in which healthcare staff can provide support to those who may be victims.

• NHS England have provided information on their website that focuses on the work around modern slavery
  • it sets out a range of ongoing activity including training, awareness raising and joint working with other organisations
  • the information can be found on their website at www.england.nhs.uk/our-work/modern-slavery
• e-learning for Healthcare (E-LfH) has produced a 30 minute e-learning package that is free to access for all healthcare professionals
  • the package can be found on their website at www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/modern-slavery
• the Royal College of Nursing has produced a pocket guide to help nurses and midwives identify victims of slavery and help victims find support.
  • the guide can be downloaded from their website at www.rcn.org.uk/publications/pub-005984
• the Independent Anti Slavery Commissioner (IASC) has produced a video for all health staff, and another for emergency services staff, on spotting the signs of modern slavery
  • the video is available on their website at  www.antislaverycommissioner.co.uk/resources.

Government guidance for organisations on how to ensure that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in their business or supply chains can be found in the ‘Slavery and human trafficking in supply chains: guidance for businesses‘ published on their website at www.gov.uk/transparency-in-supply-chains-a-practical-guide

Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires certain organisations to develop a slavery and human trafficking statement each year. The slavery and human trafficking statement should set out what steps organisations have taken to ensure modern slavery is not taking place in their business or supply chains.  This document provides guidance on:

• who is required to publish a statement
• how to write a slavery and human trafficking statement
• how to approve and publish the statement.

The website also contains links to additional guidance to support addressing the modern slavery risks in business’ operations and supply chains:

• Core Coalition Short Guides on Modern Slavery Reporting
• Ethical Trading Initiative Base Code Guidance: Modern Slavery
• Walk Free Foundation Tackling Modern Slavery in Supply Chains Guide
• Respect International Resource Centre.

The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority document includes information on modern slavery, trafficking and forced labour:

• you can also find information on what signs to look for such as behaviours, working conditions and victim appearance
• it also gives guidance on practical ‘do’s & don’ts’ when working with potential victims.