Support services for modern slavery victims are 'clearly not fit for purpose'
3 min read
Writing for PoliticsHome, Iain Duncan Smith MP says the Government is letting victims of modern slavery 'fall through the gaps' as the current system can leave them at risk of further trafficking.
Far too many people seem surprised to learn that modern slavery is not something that takes place out of sight; this reflects the wide disconnect between ideas of what slavery is, and the 136,000 men and women here in the UK who are the victims of modern slavery. These victims are in full sight, they’re the women forced to paint nails or risk being beaten in suburban salons, and they’re the men working 20 hour days in unlicensed car-washes where illnesses from chemicals can result in death.
In the wake of the Centre for Social Justice’s report ‘It Happens Here’ the United Kingdom was pioneering in passing the Modern Slavery Act in 2015, the gold-standard for legislation to eradicate human trafficking. However my debate is about making sure we do not become complacent. Concerns still persist about victim support provisions owing to the lack of both a statutory framework for care services and clear pathway for victims to move from exploitation to recovery.
I am sponsoring a Victim Support Bill with Lord McColl, a piece of legislation that will amend the Modern Slavery Act by placing into law victims’ entitlement to support and introduce a statutory duty to provide victims with ongoing support and leave to remain for a period of 12 months. The Bill has passed through the House of Lords but we are awaiting a Second Reading date in the Commons. It now seems unlikely this will happen during this parliamentary session unless the government adopts the bill.
The government has recognised some of these challenges and announced plans for victim support in October 2017. Sadly, I believe the proposals do not go far enough in addressing the primary problems. Extending the ‘move on period’, the time when extra assistance is offered, following a positive conclusive grounds decision from 14 days to 45 days, sadly provides insufficient time for victims to establish a stable foundation for the future. In particular, it is not long enough for non-UK nationals to apply for and be granted discretionary leave to remain, which in turn gives victims access to housing, benefits and other services for a period of 12 to 30 months.
Despite the genuine good intention of the government, it is clear that the current system is letting victims fall through the gaps because a victim who is later granted leave to remain can become homeless while waiting for a discretionary leave decision to be made because the 45 day move on period is not long enough to bridge the gap. A support service that leaves people at risk of further trafficking is clearly not fit for purpose.
I urge the government to embrace the Victim Support Bill in order to address weaknesses in the Modern Slavery Act. This is not a sign that the government has failed, but a clear message that it remains committed to eradicating modern slavery and helping those who are most vulnerable. If we are defined by how we behave to those most in need of help then deciding to embrace our bill would be a decent act by our caring government.
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