Hundreds of modern slavery cases on hold after Home Office admits ‘unlawful’ guidance
Hundreds of modern slavery cases will likely be put on hold after the federal government admitted its personal guidance for contemplating victims’ claims was illegal – in a contemporary blow to its “cease the boats” pledge.
The admission means the Home Office should cease refusing new claims till it attracts up new directions for officers, piling extra stress on the rising backlog of cases already taking a mean of 18 months to determine.
It comes simply days after the federal government’s deal to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda was dominated illegal by the Courtroom of Enchantment, as a separate backlog of asylum cases soars to new information.
The federal government modified Home Office guidance in January requiring claimants to show they’re victims by submitting third social gathering proof of modern slavery and trafficking. The transfer got here after ministers claimed small boat migrants have been “abusing” modern slavery protections to assert asylum – one thing the statistics watchdog discovered no proof of.
However final week, the federal government caved on a authorized problem by two individuals who have been refused safety beneath the brand new threshold.
They argued that the guidance breached the European Conference on Human Rights, was unfair and “irrational” as a result of real victims wouldn’t instantly have proof of being trafficked.
A day earlier than the case was attributable to be heard by the Excessive Courtroom, the federal government conceded and stated it will be withdrawing guidance.
As officers scramble to rewrite a lawful model, no new victims will be refused safety beneath modern slavery legal guidelines.
Greater than 1,400 of these choices have been made within the first three months of the yr, that means that for each day the bar is in place a backlog of round a dozen choices will construct.
The Home Office is reconsidering the cases of the 2 victims who introduced the authorized problem, and anybody else refused beneath the identical guidance can apply for his or her case to be reviewed.
Shalini Patel, a solicitor concerned within the authorized problem, stated: “It ought to have been evident from the outset that the requirement for trafficking survivors to supply goal proof was all the time going to be unimaginable and trigger survivors of trafficking to fall on the first hurdle.
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“Survivors of trafficking can not acquire goal proof inside the required 5 working days for quite a few causes. Those that are being exploited don’t collect proof of their exploitation while they’re being exploited.”
Those that have their cases refused are left with none skilled counselling, secure lodging, monetary help and safety from abusers.
Official figures present that when the requirement for “goal proof” from slavery and trafficking victims was launched in January, the quantity of damaging choices rocketed.
In 2022, 88 per cent of cheap grounds choices have been constructive, however within the first three months of this yr that determine dropped to 58 per cent.
Dame Sara Thornton, the previous anti-slavery watchdog, stated “alarm bells ought to have been ringing loudly within the Home Office” as quickly as they noticed the dramatic shift.
“However but once more it has been brave survivors who’ve challenged the Home Office choices and prompted this alteration of strategy,” she informed The Unbiased.
“This can be very regarding that many survivors of severe crimes seem to have been denied help and safety since these modifications have been made.”
The Home Office conceded the case a day earlier than a listening to on the Excessive Courtroom (PA)
(PA Archive)
Dame Sara’s former submit as Unbiased Anti-Slavery Commissioner stays empty a yr and two months after her time period ended, after the appointment of a successor was delayed by Suella Braverman.
It signifies that no impartial watchdog has been in place throughout the consideration of the illegal guidance, the drawing up of the Unlawful Migration Invoice to deport all small boats migrants to Rwanda and a linked enlargement of the Rwanda deal to permit the deportation of trafficking victims.
Maya Esslemont, director of anti-trafficking group After Exploitation, stated the federal government had created “unrealistic burdens of proof” for individuals who might have been rescued from their abusers days earlier than.
“Survivors want extra help, earlier, to be able to collect proof now demanded of them, however their help is withheld until they’ll present a excessive degree of proof,” they added. “This was by no means a sustainable state of affairs, and highlights the lengths this authorities is prepared to go to to be able to decimate modern slavery protections.”
Esslemont referred to as for all these rejected beneath the illegal guidance to be supplied the prospect of reconsideration.
In authorized correspondence, the Home Office stated it was its “intention” to publish the brand new model by 10 July, and that within the interim interval no cases can be rejected.
A Home Office spokesperson stated: “Modern slavery is a barbaric crime. We’re dedicated to tackling it and making certain victims are given the help they should start rebuilding their lives.
“The Nationwide Referral Mechanism offers help to hundreds of victims of modern slavery annually, however some individuals search to use the system, which is why we’ve got taken steps to stop this.
“The Home Office repeatedly updates statutory guidance and we’ll shortly difficulty an extra clarification to the present guidance on modern slavery claims.”
