2024
Recognising and Addressing Links Between Cognitive Impairment and Exploitation in England
This report, published by Nottingham Rights Lab in collaboration with the Human Trafficking Foundation, University of Birmingham and Ann Craft Trust, provides the first robust description of the connections between cognitive impairment and diverse forms of exploitation of adults in England, exploring potential causal relationships, and proposes a multi-layer framework for policy and action to respond to these issues.
Ten years of the Slavery and Trafficking Care Standards September 2024: A review and reflection
The Slavery and Trafficking Survivor Care Standards, first published in 2014 and again in 2018, aim to provide consistent, high-quality care for adult survivors of trafficking across the This report written by the University of Nottingham Rights Lab in collaboration with the Human Trafficking Foundation, is a 10 year review and reflection of the Standards. The care and support landscape for survivors of modern slavery has changed significantly since the development of the Care Standards. Legislative changes have affected who can access support, services are seeing an increasingly complex client group, and more support is provided outside of the National Referral Mechanism. This changing context has led to calls for the Care Standards to be reviewed and if necessary updated. This report outlines an evidence-based approach to understand what the evidence base is for the current Care Standards, explore how the Care Standards are being used in policy and practice, and make recommendations regarding a future update or revision of the Care Standards.
Co-Working Between Lived and Learnt Experience
HTF and the Lived Experience Advisory Panel organised a forum with expert speakers with both lived and learnt experience, to explore effective and ethical co-working within the anti-trafficking sector. This report covers the presentations given at the forum, and includes practical tips and resources for co-working.
Assessing the Modern Slavery Impacts of the Nationality and Borders Act: One Year On
HTF partnered with the British and International Institute of Comparative Law (BIICL) and the Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group (ATMG), to document the effects of the Nationality and Borders Act, categorised across impacts on decision-making outcomes, impacts on people with lived experience of modern slavery, and impacts on organisations working in the modern slavery sector. The report was funded by the Modern Slavery Policy and Evidence Centre and a summary can be found here.
Identifying adults with lived experience of modern slavery in the UK
HTF partnered with the British and International Institute of Comparative Law (BIICL) to examine the training provided to First Responder Organisations and undertake a first-of-its kind-analysis of the Duty to Notify data for 2020 and 2021 (provided by the Home Office under a Memorandum of Understanding) to analyse reasons why adults with lived experience of modern slavery decide not to be referred to the NRM. The report was funded by the Modern Slavery Policy and Evidence Centre and a summary can be found here.
2023
Learning Disabilities and Modern Slavery Working Group Addendum
HTF has worked with the Snowdrop Project to establish a working group to explore the link between learning disabilities and vulnerability to exploitation. The Working Group on Modern Slavery and Cognitive Disability undertook a series of research workshops to explore challenges and best practice to support survivors of modern slavery with cognitive disabilities. This report details the findings and recommendations for the development of a toolkit for practitioners to help remove barriers in communication between practitioners and clients with cognitive disabilities, establish trust and enhance support.
Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) Annual Report July 2022-July 2023
Over the past year, members of LEAP have designed and delivered training on modern slavery to local authorities, police and community groups, advised on policies and guidance and ensured lived experience is brought into learning to help improve understanding, attitudes and services available. This annual report highlights their successes and details the projects they have supported and the impact they have had on the sector throughout the first year since their inception.
The Key Issue: Housing for Survivors of Modern Slavery
The Human Trafficking Foundation, supported by Commonweal Housing, has published a report outlining the housing landscape for survivors of modern slavery. Survivors are entitled to safe and appropriate accommodation under ECAT and yet access to safe and appropriate housing is full of challenges. This report looks to the ‘Whole Housing Approach’ to domestic abuse to understand if there are learnings that could be adapted for the response to modern slavery and makes practical recommendations within the current context which go some way to addressing the challenges and ensuring the approach to housing is centred on the individual survivor’s needs.
Vicarious Trauma, Burn Out and Staff Retention in the Anti-Slavery Sector
The Human Trafficking Foundation organised a forum with expert speakers, open to anyone working in the anti-trafficking space, to analyse the risks and effects of vicarious trauma, spot the signs and reduce the risk of burn out, and staff retention in the sector. The post-event report summary includes practical coping strategies and resources.
Impact of the Nationality and Borders Act: Changes to the Reasonable Grounds Threshold (2023)
Members of the National Network Coordinators Forum and their partners, along with the Anti-Slavery London Working Group and the London Modern Slavery Leads Network fed into this briefing which captures the impact of the increased threshold for entering the National Referral Mechanism and the effect this is having on people who have experienced modern slavery and the organisations making referrals.
2022
UK Labour Visa Schemes: Creating the Conditions for Exploitation? (2022)
The Human Trafficking Foundation organised a forum with expert speakers, open to anyone working in the anti-trafficking space, to explore a range of short-term labour visas available in the UK for migrant workers and consider the unintended consequences of these visas which can often put workers at risk of exploitation.
Child Criminal Exploitation and The Need for Consistency (2022)
While awareness of Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) and specifically county lines has undeniably increased in recent years, the question of whether this has resulted in better outcomes for criminally exploited young people still remains to be seen. This report provides a summary of two roundtable events entitled ‘County Lines on the Frontline’ and ‘County Lines Through a Strategic Lens’ on the current landscape of CCE, tracing and evaluating the work of key stakeholders and presents recommendations that emerged from these discussions.
Modern Slavery and Learning Disabilities (2022)
A post-event report summary of the under-explored correlation between cognitive impairment and exploitation, after the 2021 forum co-hosted with the Snowdrop Project investigating the barriers survivors with learning disabilities face in navigating support.
London Modern Slavery Leads Annual Report (2021-22)
This London Modern Slavery Leads (LMSL) annual report for 2021 for the first time presents a detailed breakdown of modern slavery data for each London Borough along with comprehensive insights into how each of the Boroughs are tackling the issue exploring governance, both successes and challenges, their key partners and priority areas for 2022.
Lived Experience Train the Trainer End of Project Report (2022)
The Human Trafficking Foundation received funding from the Home Office prevention fund to deliver a ‘train the trainer’ project. Four of the consultants were survivors of modern slavery, one was a parent of a survivor, and the sixth consultant was the Founder of a national advocacy organisation representing lived insights from parents of victims. The consultants attended online training sessions delivered by HTF and delivered training on modern slavery to local authorities, police and community groups in London to bring lived experiences into learning to help improve understanding, attitudes and services available.
2021
The Voice of British Survivors of Modern Slavery (2021)
While British survivors of modern slavery are now recognised as the largest cohort in referrals to the National Referral Mechanism, the Government’s framework for identifying victims, their voices are not being heard. This report, written by HTF, IASC, TSA, Snowdrop, SPACE et al, details the findings from an event earlier in 2021, co-created with two British survivor advocates which shone a light on the challenges these survivors face accessing adequate support and in being recognised as victims of modern slavery.
Nationality and Borders Bill Part 5: Modern Slavery Consideration Paper (2021)
This consideration paper evaluates the clauses in Part 5 of the Nationality and Borders Bill, analysing implications and impacts of the proposed provisions for survivors of modern slavery considering existing evidence. The document was written to serve as an information source for MPs and Peers as they embark on the parliamentary process and provides an evidence base for the anti-slavery sector. The paper was prepared by Rights Lab University of Nottingham with input from Catherine Meredith and HTF and contributions from anti-slavery sector as part of the HTF Research and Evidence Group.
HTF’s Written Evidence to the Committee on the Nationality and Borders Bill (2021)
Written evidence submitted by HTF to the Committee on Part 5 of the Nationality and Borders Bill relating to modern slavery. The evidence highlights key ‘by-product’ concerns the Bill may have on victims of modern slavery, and how these might be mitigated.
BASNET’s Race EDI Action Plan (2021)
The BASNET Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Race Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Action Plan is the result of a year-long consultation by members of BASNET’s EDI Working Group including HTF. It followed a conference held in July 2020 in partnership with the Human Trafficking Foundation to explore the plethora of gaps in race equality, diversity, inclusion and representation within the anti-trafficking sector.
HTF and The Rights Lab, University of Nottingham hosted an online forum bringing together survivors of modern slavery and individuals working across the anti-slavery sector (154 in total) to discuss the ongoing and future challenges faced by survivors due to Covid-19. This briefing provides an overview of discussions that took place and the reflections shared by attendees prepared by The Rights Lab.
The London Working Group’s London Mayoral Election Pledge (2021)
Thirty members of HTF’s London Working Group called on the London Mayoral Candidates to prioritise modern slavery if elected in May 2021. The main mayoral candidates, including current Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, Conservative candidate Shaun Bailey, Liberal Democrat candidate Luisa Porritt, Green Party candidate Sian Berry and Women’s Equality Party candidate Mandu Reid signed the pledge. Within this they agreed to develop London’s first dedicated modern slavery strategy.
The London Working Group’s Response to the Mayor of London’s Draft Police and Crime Plan 2021-25 (2021)
London Working Group responded to the consultation on the Mayor of London’s draft Police and Crime Plan 2021-25.
2020
Taking Back Control of our Borders? The Impact on Modern Day Slavery (2020)
This HTF report identifies two key areas that the UK Government needs to improve upon to tackle transnational modern slavery effectively post-Brexit: effective border control and identification processes, and safe, legal and fair routes into the UK to promote good business practice and prioritise the safety of those who might be trafficked.
Making the UK Unattractive to Traffickers: The Business Argument (2020)
This HTF addendum to ‘Taking Back Control of Our Borders?’ report provides more detail to the recommendations relating to business, that can be found in Part Four of the HTF Report, Taking Back Control of our Borders (see above).
Rapid Inquiry into the Impact of COVID-19 on Modern Slavery in the UK (2020)
The UK’s All Party Parliamentary Group on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery conducted a rapid inquiry to better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the picture of modern slavery in the UK and the experiences of survivors and support services.
2019
APPG Statement on State Sanctioned Organ Harvesting in China (2019)
The UK’s All Party Parliamentary Group on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery position statement on the state sanctioned organ trafficking of prisoners in China, calling for the Government to publicly condemn the practice of forced organ harvesting of prisoners of conscience in China.
Tackling Modern Slavery: Council Case Studies (2019)
In 2017, the Local Government Association (LGA) published guidance for councils on the role that they can play in responding to modern slavery. This HTF report builds on this by providing a series of council case studies which demonstrate the wide range of activity now underway within local government to respond to the growing threat of modern slavery in the UK.
Return and Reintegration for Survivors of Modern Slavery (2019)
The Human Trafficking Foundation and International Organization for Migration (IOM) conducted a survey on behalf of the International Policy Working Group to develop understanding of the Home Office-run Voluntary Returns Scheme. The findings highlight the overall picture for survivors returning from the UK is inconsistent, with participants expressing real concerns about safety and risk assessments, lack of information about and contacts with support providers in countries of origin and a lack of clarity and gaps in the current processes.
The Home Office’s Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act (2019)
HTF Trustees co-authored this review of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 which provides evidence and recommendations principally on four areas of the Act including the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, transparency in supply chains, Independent Child Trafficking Advocates and the legal application of the Act.
The Palgrave International Handbook of Human Trafficking (2019)
This handbook is an international, comprehensive, reference tool in the field of trafficking in people and slavery. Contributions from HTF include a chapter on ‘Working with Parliamentarians, Statutory Authorities, and the NGO Sector: The Role of the Human Trafficking Foundation in Improving Identification and Victim Support.’
2018
Principles that Underpin Early Support Provision for Survivors of Trafficking (2018)
In partnership with the British Red Cross, the Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group (ATMG) and Anti-Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit (ATLEU), the Human Trafficking Foundation established 10 core principles as minimum standards for the new Places of Safety which were introduced as part of important NRM reforms to improve support for survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery.
Trafficking Survivor Care Standards (2018)
The Trafficking Survivor Care Standards were developed by HTF in conjunction with experts in the anti trafficking sector with the aim of providing a blueprint for UK-wide service providers offering high quality care to adult survivors of modern slavery, including trafficking. The Standards provide a flexible framework with guiding principles and practical recommendations that support agencies can incorporate into their own existing policies and procedures. The previous edition published in 2015 can be found here
2017
HTF report for the Romanian All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Human Trafficking on the experiences of victims of human trafficking on their return to Romania, which offers a series of suggestions for Parliamentarians to consider to better support victims. Romania’s Parliament Group for the fight against human trafficking report can be found here.
Co-op’s Bright Future Programme: An independent Review (2017)
This review, co-authored by HTF, is an independent interim review of the Bright Future programme, commissioned by the Co-op which assesses the relevance, efficiency and effectiveness of the Bright Future programme, and considers its outcomes and sustainability.
Nobody deserves to live this way! (2017)
An APPG on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery inquiry into the situation of separated and unaccompanied minors in parts of Europe. The evidence showed that leaving children without safe and legal options left them in limbo, stranded in dangerous and often violent situations. In many instances this resulted in children turning to smugglers, putting themselves at risk of dangerous journeys and of exploitation to pay the smugglers.
Best Practice Guide, Pathway and Identification Tools for Frontline Staff in Local Authorities (2017)
Together with the Anti-Slavery London Working Group, the Foundation produced several resources to help Local Authorities improve their response to human trafficking and modern slavery, in particular the identification and support offered to adult survivors. Definitions and Indicators: how to identify a victim of human trafficking or modern slavery. Statutory Duties and Powers which lays out the NRM and a Local Authority's statutory duties to identify and support victims of human trafficking and modern slavery and Referral Pathway for adult victims and NRM Process Guide.
The recommendations in this report, co-authored by HTF, highlight the minimum standards needed for a sustainable support system towards recovery for adult survivors of slavery post NRM put together by a coalition of anti-trafficking organisations.
2016
Consultation on the Mayor’s Draft Police and Crime Plan for London (2016)
HTF’s London Working Group’s Submission to the London Mayor’s Consultation on the Draft Police and Crime Plan for London 2017-21.
Day 46: Is there life after the safe house for survivors of modern slavery? (2016)
This HTF report followed the lives of survivors after they left the safe house. The research found that a quarter of victims disappeared after being rescued: of 73 potential interviewees, a few months after exiting the shelter, 18 were completely unaccounted for. Jess Phillips MP describes the report as a “damning indictment of our failure to protect victims of trafficking.”
2015
Life Beyond the Safe House for survivors of modern slavery in London (2015)
This HTF report highlights the gaps in victim support in the UK and makes recommendations to improve provision and urges the Government to review its approach to move-on support for survivors of modern slavery to help survivors recover from their experiences and integrate into society. The report makes clear that a cohesive approach to victim support would mean survivors would be more likely to recover and regain control over their lives.
2014
Inquiry into collection, exchange and use of data about human trafficking and modern slavery (2014)
This APPG on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery report highlights the need to improve systems of data collection on human trafficking.
