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UK must lead human trafficking fight, says Theresa May Modern slavery: England and Wales police investigating 'too few' cases
(about 1 hour later)
The UK must lead the global fight against human trafficking, Prime Minister Theresa May will say later. Police are failing to investigate alleged cases of modern slavery due to "chronic weaknesses" in crime recording, the UK's anti-slavery commissioner says.
Mrs May will tell a Westminster Abbey service that the UK will "work tirelessly" to combat modern slavery. In his first annual report, Kevin Hyland said police in England and Wales had received 3,146 allegations, but recorded just 884 crimes.
A "radical approach" is needed "to target every aspect of this despicable trade and put the slave-drivers out of business for good", she will say. He said there were "too many gaps" for victims to fall through.
The UK's anti-slavery commissioner said victims were failed by "chronic weaknesses" within law enforcement. The National Police Chiefs' Council said the crime had "unique challenges".
Kevin Hyland, who was appointed by Mrs May when she was home secretary, said "substandard" crime recording in England and Wales had led to fewer investigations being launched into modern slavery cases. The report comes as Prime Minister Theresa May calls for the UK to lead the global fight against human trafficking, promising it will "work tirelessly" to combat modern slavery.
In his first annual report, he said: "Inadequacies in this area impact not only present and future victims, but could also allow organised crime groups to act with impunity, compromising the UK's national security." Mr Hyland, who was appointed by Ms May last year, said there would need a "first-class response across the UK" for the UK to achieve this ambition.
The Home Office estimates that there are between 10,000 and 13,000 potential victims of human trafficking in Britain and the global figure is 45 million. His analysis indicated that, at best, 28% of referrals in England and Wales were recorded as crimes last year.
'Gold standard'
When the referrals are not recorded as crimes, investigations are not launched and victims do not receive the justice and support they need and deserve, Mr Hyland warned.
Police Scotland fared little better - of the 154 potential victims identified through the National Referral Mechanism, only 13 crimes were recorded.
But in Northern Ireland 100% of referrals were recorded under a human trafficking and exploitation offence.
Mr Hyland said this showed it was possible to record modern slavery crime accurately.
The report said: "Inadequacies in this area impact not only present and future victims, but could also allow organised crime groups to act with impunity, compromising the UK's national security."
The National Police Chiefs' Council said modern slavery was a "complex and cross-border type offence" but that officers could do more.
Its spokesman said: "It does not excuse the gap between national referrals and recorded crime in some areas. We also believe there are many victims of modern slavery who are yet to be identified."
The Home Office estimates there are between 10,000 and 13,000 potential victims of human trafficking in Britain, with 45 million worldwide.
'I was trafficked from Romania''I was trafficked from Romania'
Mihaela was trafficked three times across Europe from Romania to work in the sex trade against her will.Mihaela was trafficked three times across Europe from Romania to work in the sex trade against her will.
"In the mornings and afternoons I'd have 15 clients," she says."In the mornings and afternoons I'd have 15 clients," she says.
"In the evenings, through to the next morning, they'd bring another 20 to me.""In the evenings, through to the next morning, they'd bring another 20 to me."
The 26-year-old says she was trafficked out of Romania to Hungary, Austria and Switzerland with a gun to her head - the first time when she was aged just 16.The 26-year-old says she was trafficked out of Romania to Hungary, Austria and Switzerland with a gun to her head - the first time when she was aged just 16.
"I had a lover and he was part of the mafia traffickers," she says."I had a lover and he was part of the mafia traffickers," she says.
Mihaela's story: Trafficked from Romania.Mihaela's story: Trafficked from Romania.
The most common countries of origin in UK cases are Nigeria, Vietnam, Romania, Poland and Albania. As home secretary, Mrs May was responsible for passing the UK's Modern Slavery Act last year - the first of its kind in Europe.
'Appalling crimes' Speaking at a service in Westminster in honour of 18th-Century anti-slavery campaigner William Wilberforce later, Mrs May will say: "Our challenge is to ensure that the fight against slavery carries on - to free people from the bonds of servitude, to free those in mental chains, and to free people from the clutches of slave-drivers and traffickers.
As home secretary, Mrs May was responsible for passing the Modern Slavery Act last year - the first of its kind in Europe. She will promise £33m from the aid budget to focus on high-risk countries, from which victims are regularly trafficked to the UK - these include Nigeria, Vietnam, Romania, Poland and Albania.
The Westminster service is to be held in honour of 18th-Century anti-slavery campaigner William Wilberforce
Mrs May will tell the congregation: "Our challenge is to ensure that the fight against slavery carries on - to free people from the bonds of servitude, to free those in mental chains, and to free people from the clutches of slave-drivers and traffickers.
"I want Britain at the forefront of this fight, leading the world with our efforts to stamp out modern slavery."
Who was William Wilberforce?Who was William Wilberforce?
She will say that £33m will be used from the aid budget to focus on high-risk countries, from where victims are regularly trafficked to the UK.
"We will work tirelessly, relentlessly pursuing the perpetrators of these appalling crimes so that victims of slavery can go free," Mrs May will say.
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 says an offence is committed if someone holds another in slavery or servitude or requires them to perform forced or compulsory labour.The Modern Slavery Act 2015 says an offence is committed if someone holds another in slavery or servitude or requires them to perform forced or compulsory labour.
The legislation increased the maximum jail term for people traffickers from 14 years to life, and gave courts in England and Wales powers to impose orders to restrict the activities of suspected traffickers.The legislation increased the maximum jail term for people traffickers from 14 years to life, and gave courts in England and Wales powers to impose orders to restrict the activities of suspected traffickers.
It was aimed at consolidating offences used to prosecute those who enslaved others into a single act.It was aimed at consolidating offences used to prosecute those who enslaved others into a single act.