Response of United Reformed Church to Home Office submission Tackling Human Trafficking – Consultation on Proposals for a UK Action Plan.

Introduction

 

It is a terrible irony, that as Britain prepares to celebrate, in March 2007, the two hundredth anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in the British colonies, there are people being transported, and held in the UK today, in a form of enslavement. That is the shocking truth of human trafficking.

 

This response, from the Church and Society committee of the United Reformed Church, with assistance from the Racial Justice and Multi-Cultural Ministry committee, recognises that both government and police are operating in a difficult area, and that the true extent of the problem is still being revealed. The Church welcomes steps already taken, including legislation in 2003 to make trafficking a criminal offence. It also welcomes the open-ness of the consultation and sees it as a helpful step forward.

 

This submission does not pretend to be exhaustive; others will offer answers to questions not covered here. It does, in places, make observations about more general aspects of asylum procedures, which have a bearing on how victims of trafficking are treated.

 

Consultation Questions

 

1. Have we got the scope of the plan right? Have we adequately covered the various forms of exploitation which can arise in the trafficking context?

 

More research needs to be done to ascertain the true extent of human trafficking. The scope of the plan may need to be amended in the light of further revelations.

 

The foreword to the consultation says people trafficking is to be the second priority of the Serious Organised Crime Agency, after drug trafficking. We believe it should be an equal priority. SOCA needs to be augmented by people experienced in working with victims.

 

2. Are there any areas for action or specific actions missing from the proposals?

 

Education and awareness-raising needs to play an important part in tackling human trafficking. There are still many who do not appreciate the seriousness of the problem – including members of the general public, government agencies and faith communities. The United Reformed Church is committed to raising the profile of the issue among its members and churches. (We refer to specific aspects of awareness-raising in para.7).

 

We have anecdotal evidence – but from a number of different sources – to suggest that Immigration staff assessing the validity of an asylum seeker’s application to remain in Britain are often inexperienced and inadequately trained. Those professing to be in danger in their home country because of their Christian faith are often asked to demonstrate their Christian allegiance by being asked inappropriate, obscure and often ambiguous questions.

 

Specific proposals need to be formulated in advance of the London Olympic games in 2012. We understand there is likely to be a huge increase in the number of people trafficked into Germany this summer, for the purposes of prostitution, to coincide with the Football World Cup Finals.

 

3. How can we measure the extent to which trafficking is taking place into and within the UK? In particular, how can we improve our knowledge on the scale of child trafficking and trafficking for labour exploitation into and within the UK?

 

Community networks and leaders of migrant communities from countries of source may have an understanding of how traffickers operate. Government needs to continue to consult with these networks and communities.

 

4. Does your organisation have information on cases of trafficking in the UK, in particular trafficking for forced labour, including domestic service?

 

5. How can we raise awareness amongst potential trafficking victims about the risks and realities of the exploitation they are likely to suffer through being trafficked?

 

The Church may have a role to play here, through long-standing partnerships with churches in sending countries. We have begun exploring this with some of the United Reformed Church’s partner churches.

 

6. How do we ensure that victims are identified at the earliest opportunity, particularly in source countries (prior to departure) and at our borders where the victims themselves may not be aware that they are being trafficked?

 

We understand there is a current initiative to train port and airport staff in Britain to recognise those who have been trafficked. Can lessons learned be shared with equivalent staff in countries of source? This also raises questions about what will happen to those identified; will they be turned back, only to be re-processed by the traffickers?

 

7. How can we reduce the demand for the services of trafficked persons, in particular for forced labour, including domestic service?

 

With particular reference to those trafficked for the purpose of prostitution: Those who use prostitutes come from all walks of life. Often, when using a brothel or secure house they will pay their money to a receptionist – as they might when visiting the dentist - and believe that they have responsibly discharged their obligation. A vigorous campaign of awareness raising is needed to encourage these people to make a connection between the women and girls they are using, and women they know – their own wives, daughters, granddaughters and sisters. An education campaign could be funded by a tax on so-called sex “toys”. We do not favour a tax on condoms (which has been suggested) because this may deter people from using them and so increase the transmission of HIV/AIDS.

 

Prosecution of those making use of a prostitute, where the user might reasonably believe the prostitute to be under that age of 18, should be on the basis that this is a sexual offence against a child. The current advertising campaign with an image of a ‘No Entry’ sign on a woman’s briefs – warning men that they are committing rape unless they seek consent before sex – is highly effective and could be adapted.

 

Demand might also be reduced by regulating of misleading and euphemistic newspaper advertisements and by targeting the sex tourism industry, in which reputable tour organisers play a part.

 

In the case of those trafficked for employment, large supermarket chains, very concerned about their reputation, need to be pushed to ensure that they are not purchasing cheap produce from providers who are not meeting employment regulations. Driving down of supermarket prices has not helped. A DEFRA report in 2005 indicated that this was a factor in forcing down wages and conditions of employment.

 

For hundreds of years, British farming and other seasonal trades, have depended upon migrant labour for tasks such as planting and picking. (The collator of this submission migrated to the countryside as a boy for pea picking). However, a recent survey by the Ethical Trade Initiative found migrants being paid too little, working too many hours in difficult and dangerous conditions, and being charged extortionate fees for housing. The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (set up after the death of Chinese cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay) needs to be sufficiently-well funded for its task.

 

8. How should we tackle the specific problem of child trafficking?

 

9. We have provided for heavy maximum penalties for trafficking offences. Are we achieving the right sentences in these cases?

 

We support the use of heavy sentences, where it is clear that those before the court are the “masterminds” behind the trafficking and not those used by them. We are concerned at some of the very long sentences handed down to drug couriers or mules, who are, in many respects, as much victims as the victims of trafficking.

 

10. What more needs to be done to get trafficking into core police business?

 

We recognise that much progress has been made, but more may still need to be done to address racial and social stereotyping among serving police officers

 

11. What more needs to be done to raise awareness of organised immigration crime, including trafficking, among police forces?

 

Trafficking must not be seen as just one immigration offence alongside others. This will not help the police or the public to treat trafficked people as victims.

 

12. How could support services provided to victims of trafficking be replicated or expanded?

 

Treatment provision for those who come forward as victims of trafficking is wholly inadequate. They are likely to be frightened, ashamed, suspicious and emotionally and psychologically traumatised and may need much longer than three months in a safe place before they can even begin to talk about their ordeal. Far more safe places are needed in the style of the Poppy Project.

 

There are faith-based and other voluntary sector organisations, and refugee support groups, that could provide these services with government funding.

 

Support and protection should not be dependent upon the victim’s willingness to co-operate with the police.

 

13. Do you know of organisations that can provide specialist care and support to victims of trafficking?

 

As above, faith-based groups, refugee support groups and other voluntary sector organisations could provide workers with the expertise to identify and support victims of trafficking. Some already do valuable work with trafficked people but they need more premises, buildings and staff.

 

That said, it is critical that organisations commissioned for this work are carefully screened. Refugees and asylum seekers have told us that some organisations offering support services are merely money-making schemes that care little for victims.

 

There are good examples of how faith groups have helped victims of traffickers and other asylum seekers to recover from their ordeal and settle into a community. In 2000, Nelson, a small town in East Lancashire found itself hosting large numbers of asylum seekers who arrived by coach with no prior notification. A drop-in and support network was hastily put in place and, as people came together and learned to trust one another, personal stories began to emerge. The general pattern was of young single people, predominantly male having to escape their home country because they had taken a political stand against a dictatorship government that threatened their safety. Often they had escaped from prison through bribing a guard - with no passport and often no papers at all; human traffickers became a necessary evil.

 

14. How do we identify vulnerable child victims?

 

Establishing the age of young people is notoriously difficult; some may have been schooled to say they are older than they are. When they reach their 18th birthday they are likely still to be vulnerable, even though they are no longer the responsibility of Social Services.

 

15. What are the benefits and drawbacks of providing reflection periods and/or residence permits to victims of trafficking?

 

Trading in human bodies is not acceptable. Any compassionate stance offers benefits in terms of natural justice – restoration of dignity, self-respect and self-belief. It would deter traffickers, if they lost large numbers of their workers who had been freed from bondage in this way. We recognise there is a cost, and that it would mean more asylum seekers would be admitted to Britain. We believe this is a cost the nation should bear.

 

As for reflection periods, we believe there is a clear benefit in that this would do what it says: give the person time and space to reflect. But the period may need to be much longer. During such a short time, the victim may already be fearful of what will happen afterwards. Protection is important during this period; victims are valuable to traffickers so they will not be left alone, and may be prepared to wait until they are back in circulation.

 

We believe that a sympathetic approach should be adopted to those victims who wish to stay after a period of reflection, irrespective of whether they decide to assist the police. They will almost certainly need continuing counseling and friendship, and a great deal of support to start a new life

 

We do not see the so-called “pull” factor as a sufficiently serious concern not to introduce periods of reflection.

 

16. How can we ensure that vulnerable victims returning to their countries of origin are not re-trafficked?

 

We recognise this as a significant problem, as victims may be harassed by traffickers and rejected by their own families who are angry that they have used up money saved to send them to Europe, or because they have not sent any money home. Co-operation with governments in the sending countries is important. We believe Britain should sign the Council of Europe Convention on trafficking.

 

17. How can we ensure safe and sustainable return and reintegration of victims into their home communities?

 

Again, this is difficult. There needs to be international co-operation. This should be a factor taken into account when an application for continued residence in Britain is being considered.

 

18. How do the support needs of those trafficked for labour exploitation differ from the needs of those trafficked for sexual exploitation?

 

Migrant workers may be distrusted by local communities in which they work. They are likely to need advice regarding legal entitlements, health care, spiritual support in their own tradition and language and help with interpretation. Rural churches, particularly, may be able to set an example in acceptance and friendship. The Churches Rural Group, a committee of Churches Together in England based at the Arthur Rank Centre has a good understanding of such needs. www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk

 

We are also aware of recent helpful initiatives by Devon and Cornwall police, who provide a dedicated worker to deal with migrant worker issues, and a helpline for Polish workers in Hampshire.