Freedom of Information Act Publication Scheme Protective Marking Not Protectively Marked. Publication Scheme Yes. Human Trafficking Policy Version

Transcription

1 Freedom of Information Act Publication Scheme Protective Marking Not Protectively Marked Publication Scheme Yes Y/N Title Human Trafficking Policy Version One Summary Human Trafficking is a serious crime which is under reported within the MPS. This is due to both a lack of awareness of the crime and an understanding of the indicators to identify trafficked victims. Branch / OCU Human Exploitation and Organised Crime Command (SCD9) Date created February 2011 Review date February 2014

2 Introduction This new policy and accompanying Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) creates a framework for all staff to provide a professional and standard response to the investigation of Human Trafficking. This Policy replaces Notices , Item 1 Operation maxim, Human Trafficking Team (HTT) Application This policy takes effect immediately. All police officers and police staff, including the extended police family and those working voluntarily or under contract to the MPA must be aware of, and are required to comply with, all relevant MPS policy and associated procedures. However, this policy applies in particular to officers and staff in the following roles: BOCU Commanders Crime Managers Borough Forensic Managers Child Abuse Investigation Teams Community Safety Units Station Reception Officers Integrated Borough Office staff Uniform Response Officers Custody staff CID Officers Human Exploitation and Organised Crime Command (SCD9) Officers Telephone Investigation Bureau staff (TIB) Metcall staff Borough Intelligence Units Frontline uniform roles within Central Operations e.g. TSG, Traffic, Dogs N.B. This list is not intended to be exhaustive. Purpose The MPS is committed to make London the safest major city in the world; seeking to prevent and detect crimes of human trafficking by working in partnership with other agencies.

3 The MPS will hold perpetrators of Human Trafficking accountable for their actions and stop the exploitation of vulnerable victims ensuring their safety. Scope The Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (CETS 197) was signed by the UK on 23 March 2007 and was ratified on 17 December Trafficking is defined in article 4 of CETS 197 and is taken from article 3 of the Trafficking Protocol to the UN Convention on organized crime. Article 4 provides: a) Trafficking in human beings shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat of or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs. b) The consent of a victim of trafficking in human beings to the intended exploitation set forth in subparagraph (a) of this article shall be irrelevant where any means set forth in paragraph (a) have been used; c) The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a child for the purpose of exploitation shall be considered trafficking in human beings even if this does not involve any of the means set forth in subparagraph (a) of this article. Policy Statement Our aims within this policy and associated Standard Operating Procedure are: Primary aim To investigate, identify and assist in the prosecution of perpetrators to the satisfaction of the victim and community. Secondary aim - where a criminal prosecution of a perpetrator is not possible; To identify and pursue alternative courses of action (where appropriate with or by partner agencies) to ensure that victims receive a high standard of support and aftercare while utilising all appropriate means to gain intelligence concerning the perpetrator. In this way we are seeking to disrupt a perpetrator, through bringing

4 them to justice by other means, recognising that they commit other types of offences. These aims are not mutually exclusive. Where appropriate, both objectives will be pursued simultaneously. Benefits The formalisation within policy of clear guidelines and accountability for the investigation of human trafficking which will lead to: A continued rise in the professional standards across the MPS through clarification of the role of all staff in the recognition and investigation of human trafficking and support to trafficked victims. An enhancement of the reputation of the MPS through continual demonstrations of procedural excellence by trained and informed MPS staff. Better recording and monitoring processes for human trafficking allegations throughout the MPS allowing a more informed policing response. Responsibilities The Specialist Crime policy forum owns this policy; SCD9 will take full responsibility in implementing this policy. There will be regular monitoring by SCD9 and reviews on the implementation. Associated Documents and Policies Standard Operating Procedure for Investigating Human Trafficking in the MPS. Policy on the Investigation of Rape and Serious Sexual Offences o Investigation of Rape and Serious Sexual Assault Standard Operating Procedure Critical Incident Standard Operating Procedure Investigation of Crime (Primary Standards) - Standard Operating Procedures. Investigation of Crime (Secondary) Standard Operating Procedures Standard Operating Procedures on Investigative Interviewing Victim's Code of Practice

5 Crime Management Policy, Standard Operating Procedures for Telephone Investigation Bureaux (Metcall) Crime Management Policy, Standard Operating Procedures for Telephone Investigation Bureaux (CAD) Crime Reporting Information System (CRIS) Standard Operating Procedure Police Protection of Children at Risk of Significant Harm - Section 46 Children Act SOP External Useful documents and links: SCD9 - TPU Documents and Legislation Page - the forms on the linked page must be completed if a victim of trafficking is recovered and give guidance on the national referral mechanism for trafficked victims. CJS [Criminal Justice System] Online resource toolkit for practitioners on trafficking of people On-call Advice Form for SCD9 - SCD9 On-Call LA Child safeguarding toolkit child trafficking UKHTC SOCA The United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) About the UKHTC Amnesty International Anti Slavery Chaste [Churches Alert to Sex Trafficking Across Europe] Department for Works and Pensions [DWP] ECPAT [End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking for Sexual Purposes] UK Border Agency Home Page IOM [International Organisation for Migration - "Managing Migration for the benefit of all" Kalayaan - Justice for migrant domestic workers [Registered charity established in 1987 to provide advice and advocacy and support services in the UK for migrant domestic workers] Migrant Domestic Workers [Home Office advice about Migrant Domestic Workers] Poppy Project [Poppy provides support and housing to women who have been trafficked into prostitution] Salvation Army [Combating Human Trafficking] United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre [UKHTC] Notice Item 1 is hereby cancelled.