Thousands of modern slavery cases rejected in Home Office crackdown on ‘bogus claims’

Thousands of suspected modern slavery victims have had their cases rejected in a Home Office crackdown on “bogus claims” – a transfer consultants warn places essentially the most weak in danger.

The Home Office has dramatically elevated the quantity of rejections since January after toughening its standards for approval by demanding these referred for assist show they’re victims by submitting police or medical reviews.

This prompted a surge in refusals, with over 3,000 folks denied assist in the primary half of the yr, regardless of the UN warning that claims of fraud have been being “exaggerated” by the federal government. The robust standards have since been softened after a authorized problem compelled the federal government to confess it was illegal.

Charities have warned that it’s not potential for victims to offer intensive documentation of how that they had been trafficked and say the brand new guidelines are excluding individuals who deserved assist.

Figures for April to June this yr present that 48 per cent of folks obtained an preliminary optimistic choice on their case – a dramatic fall from the 90 per cent of cases authorized in earlier years.

Some 3,318 folks have obtained a adverse discovering this yr to this point. Following a authorized problem, the Home Office has needed to retract its harsh steering however charities are involved that many 1000’s of folks have already been unfairly refused assist.

In a single case highlighted by the Human Trafficking Basis, a person was trafficked to the UK and criminally exploited right here as a baby. He was detained and referred by the Nationwide Referral Mechanism (NRM) to have his modern slavery declare investigated. However he was rejected the identical day and put on a airplane again to his nation of origin the following morning.

In one other case, a girl was saved as a home slave for a few years, compelled to work lengthy hours, and abused by her employer. She didn’t have any paperwork to show her abuse and her declare was rejected on the idea she had “left” her exploiters slightly than escaped them.

Main Kathy Betteridge, director of anti-trafficking and modern slavery for The Salvation Military, a charity contracted by the Home Office to assist to victims, mentioned: “We’re very involved that real victims of modern slavery aren’t getting the assist they urgently want as a result of of numerous modifications to the system which now make it more durable to show you will have been a sufferer of this heinous crime.”

Ms Betteridge mentioned regardless of the factors being softened consequently of a authorized problem to the more durable guidelines, “there’s nonetheless a scarcity of readability round decision-making”.

She added: “The Salvation Military works with many individuals escaping modern slavery who’ve come ahead with out possessions or documentation as a result of they’ve fled to security in concern of their lives. Any paperwork they could have had are sometimes confiscated or destroyed by the individual exploiting them.”

“While the quantity of folks receiving optimistic affordable grounds choices, and due to this fact receiving assist, has dropped, this doesn’t imply that there are fewer individuals who really need assist.”

Rebecca Stevenson, from the charity Christian Motion Analysis and Schooling, mentioned: “It’s unlikely that there are a lot of spurious claims as a person can’t self-refer into the Nationwide Referral Mechanism [the scheme that provides victims help]. A referral is made by a primary responder who must have proof of potential trafficking. The potential for spurious claims being profitable beneath the NRM is low given the system’s design.”

Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael accused the federal government of “betraying 1000’s of modern slavery survivors”. He added: “We’d like an actual plan from the Home Office now.”

Thomas Munns, who was half of the authorized problem at authorized agency Duncan Lewis, mentioned those that had been refused assist after the cruel necessities have been introduced in and earlier than the authorized problem efficiently reversed them might enchantment their refusal.

However he added: “It’s simply extremely unhappy that in that point I’m positive that it’s too late for some folks. One individual we represented grew to become homeless consequently of his adverse choice – at which level the danger of trafficking turns into a lot better.”

Maya Esslemont, on the non-profit organisation After Exploitation, added: “Given the present assaults on assist for survivors it’s troubling, however unsurprising, to see what number of extra survivors are actually being turned away from assist or not even thought-about for assist in the primary place.”

A Home Office spokesperson mentioned it was offering “world-leading assist” to 1000’s of modern slavery victims every year. They added: “We’re reforming our response to modern slavery to make the system extra sturdy and be sure that real victims are supported.

“Our steering ensures decision-makers take into account all obtainable proof to find out whether or not a case meets the affordable grounds threshold to make sure that victims promptly obtain the assist they should rebuild their lives, while defending the system from those that search to misuse it.”