Modern Slavery (human trafficking)

Tackling human trafficking and modern slavery is a top priority for this Government, and I am personally committed to stamping out this abhorrent crime. It is crucial that we provide support for victims of this heinous crime, and I am proud that we already exceed our international obligation in providing support to victims through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the system for identifying and supporting victims. Support services are provided to enable victims to leave situations of exploitation, receive specialist care, and begin to rebuild their lives. 
 
The Government has made clear that it is committed to continually improving support and assistance provided before, during, and after the NRM for victims of modern slavery. That is why in October 2017 a comprehensive package of reforms to the NRM was announced. The reforms include measures to significantly increase the period of 'move on' support for victims from 14 to 45 days, helping to create a smoother transition out of care. This will be in addition to the minimum 45 days of support victims already receive before a final decision is reached, increasing the total period to at least 90 days. Government funded 'places of safety' will be created which will provide up to three days of immediate support to victims rescued out of a situation of exploitation by law enforcement, as well as up to 6 months of 'drop-in' services for confirmed victims transitioning out of the NRM. These reforms will ensure the NRM operates as a bridge that supports victims to leave situations of exploitation and enables them to begin to recover and rebuild their lives.
 
In September, more than 30 countries from all regions across the globe, including the UK, signed a Call to Action, clearly stating that they will not tolerate this exploitation and setting out practical actions that can be taken to make progress on this issue.
 
I am encouraged that the Government wants to go even further. In total, the UK will double its development spending on modern slavery to £150 million, enabling more work in collaboration with source and transit countries. At the end of last year, the allocation of £40 million of this funding was announced, to help over 500,000 vulnerable men, women and children. This includes: £13 million for the second phase of the Work in Freedom programme to prevent trafficking and forced labour among women migrant workers from South Asia; a £20 million contribution to the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery, which will be used to target sectors with a high risk of slavery; and further details of the £7 million DFID support in Nigeria which will focus on creating credible alternative livelihoods. 
 
Modern slavery is a global problem and we need to work together if we are to make real progress towards eliminating it.